The Predators begin the second half of the 2006-07 regular season with a lineup nearly fully healthy. Only forwards Scottie Upshall (groin strain, day-to-day) and Martin Erat (hip flexor, day-to-day) are sidelined with injuries at the moment. Nashville has not beaten a playoff-bound team since the lopsided 6-0 pounding of the Red Wings on November 25th (losses to Anaheim, Buffalo, Colorado, and Dallas).

With a healthy Tomas Vokoun and a dinged up Anaheim, the Predators are poised to compete for the top overall seed in the Western Conference. Winning the Central division will be crucial this year as the San Jose Sharks are firmly entrenched in the number-four seed and will most likely face the second place finisher in the Central Division.

The Predators (59 points) hold a slim lead over their Central Division foe, the Detroit Red Wings (55 points). Six regular season games remain between the Predators (42 games played) and Red Wings (42 games played).

“I think the mentality is way different than last season,” Predators forward Scott Hartnell said. “We know we can win. We have that mindset, that attitude. I think it shows when we're on our game and playing hard.”

Offensively, the Predators are more balanced this season, featuring ten players with 20 points or more. The youthful defense appears to be the glaring weak-spot of the roster.

“When you get to the playoffs, you're not going to win games 7-2,” goaltender Chris Mason said. “The last few teams that have made the Stanley Cup finals from our conference are Calgary and Edmonton, so defensive-minded teams are making it.”

The Predators are averaging over 32 shots against per game while only averaging 27 shots on goal. Coach Barry Trotz attributes this to having too many playmakers and not enough greedy, snipers. Trotz has continually preached to the players that slick passes do not put points on the board.

“Come playoff time, you've got to go those greasy areas and get goals the hard way,” Barry Trotz said.

ALL-STAR GAME UPDATE

Trotz will serve as an assistant coach in the NHL All-Star Game on January 24th for the Western Conference. He earned this honor as the Predators clinched the second best record in the Western Conference based on games played through January 5th. Other Predators with an outside chance of landing a spot in the All- Star Game are Paul Kariya and Kimmo Timonen. The roster will be announced next week.

2007 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Nashville prospect defensemen Cody Franson and Ryan Parent helped Canada earn its third consecutive gold medal in the World Junior Championships held in Sweden from December 26th through January 5th. Parent received his second gold medal in as many years.

Prospect forward and Tennessee native Blake Geoffrion earned a bronze medal representing the United States. Other Predators’ prospects playing in the tournament were forward Patric Hornqvist (Sweden) and defenseman Teemu Laakso (Finland). Laakso has played in the tournament for three years now.

ICE CHIPS

League-wide, Nashville ranks third in goals per game with 3.33 and seventh in goals against per game with 2.57. The Predators (28-11-3, good for 59 points) are ranked sixth on the penalty kill (85.6%) and ninth on the power-play (18.5%).

Goaltender Chris Mason (17-7-2) leads the entire league in save percentage (.928) and is tied for third place in shutouts with four.

Paul Kariya (13 goals, 32 assists) and Steve Sullivan (12 goals, 27 assists) lead the Predators in scoring and are both in the NHL's top 50 point producers (Kariya is in 22nd place, Sullivan is in 41st). Kariya is 11th in the league in assists.

While Nashville has outscored opponents 48-32 in the first period and 62-27 in the second period, the Predators are being drastically outscored 29-47 in the third period this season.

INJURIES

Right wing Scottie Upshall is out four to six weeks with a groin strain suffered against Columbus on November 15th. Right wing Martin Erat is day to day with a hip flexor suffered in practice on January 3rd.