2008 Woodie Awards
Preds-Wings get set for NHL's first round
Teresa M. Walker
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Sports
Detroit is the team Predators' fans love to hate. They don't call them the Chicken Wings for nothing. Ask the Predators themselves about their division rival, and all anyone will admit is respect.
Nashville forward Scott Nichol even broke out a compliment, calling the Red Wings a great team.
"When you play good teams, it brings the best out of you. We always get excited to play Detroit. It's a good measuring stick for us, and we always come with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. When we do that, it's fun to play. Those games are fun to play. The fans and the crowd are going to be wild," Nichol said.
Added forward Martin Erat: "If you're playing the first game of the season against them or in the playoffs against them, it's a natural respect."
But respect doesn't mean these teams like each other. They play each other far too much for that.
The Red Wings are NHL royalty, the home of Hockeytown. They have Stanley Cups, playoff appearances and President's Trophies.
The Predators?
Well, their home remains Music City USA, where fans still aren't sure if this team deserves their support after 10 seasons. They measure success with four playoff appearances, even though they have only four combined wins in the first three trips.
It's Detroit as their Central Division rival that the Predators measure themselves against season to season since their start as an expansion franchise. It's a combination the Predators insist breeds respect, not bad blood as these teams prepare for their Western Conference quarterfinal series starting Thursday in Detroit.
"There's a little bit of a divisional rivalry that has fostered over the years," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "The competitive level and the competitive juices will be high on both sides. That's a good thing."
Captain Jason Arnott calls it a strong rivalry.
"We know them really well as they know us really well," he said.
Detroit has played, and dominated, Nashville since the Predators broke into the NHL in 1998. It was Detroit that Nashville first played in the postseason in 2004.
Nashville forward Scott Nichol even broke out a compliment, calling the Red Wings a great team.
"When you play good teams, it brings the best out of you. We always get excited to play Detroit. It's a good measuring stick for us, and we always come with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. When we do that, it's fun to play. Those games are fun to play. The fans and the crowd are going to be wild," Nichol said.
Added forward Martin Erat: "If you're playing the first game of the season against them or in the playoffs against them, it's a natural respect."
But respect doesn't mean these teams like each other. They play each other far too much for that.
The Red Wings are NHL royalty, the home of Hockeytown. They have Stanley Cups, playoff appearances and President's Trophies.
The Predators?
Well, their home remains Music City USA, where fans still aren't sure if this team deserves their support after 10 seasons. They measure success with four playoff appearances, even though they have only four combined wins in the first three trips.
It's Detroit as their Central Division rival that the Predators measure themselves against season to season since their start as an expansion franchise. It's a combination the Predators insist breeds respect, not bad blood as these teams prepare for their Western Conference quarterfinal series starting Thursday in Detroit.
"There's a little bit of a divisional rivalry that has fostered over the years," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "The competitive level and the competitive juices will be high on both sides. That's a good thing."
Captain Jason Arnott calls it a strong rivalry.
"We know them really well as they know us really well," he said.
Detroit has played, and dominated, Nashville since the Predators broke into the NHL in 1998. It was Detroit that Nashville first played in the postseason in 2004.
Be the first to comment on this story