Nashville

It's that time of year again.

The best and most exciting playoffs begin.Their  Better than the NBA playoffs, because of the potential for three of four OT games in a single series.

Players who are under the radar often find opportunities to step their game up during these riveting, do-or- die games in the postseason. Let's be honest, all psychic powers aside, very few of us would have predicted that Martin Gelinas would score the series deciding goal in three different series during the Calgary Flames' 2004 magical Stanley Cup run, or that Fernando Pisani would be the 2006 playoff leading goal scorer.

Blake Geoffrion's grandfather was the legendary Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, who starred for the Montreal Canadiens from 1950-64 before finishing his playing career with the New York Rangers from 1966-1968.

Bernie scored 393 career NHL goals and earned the nickname due to an extremely heavy slap shot he first used while playing junior hockey in Laval, Quebec.

With the trade deadline only a few short days away, many Predators fans, as well as the hockey pundits of the world, were mentioning that the Preds could use another defenseman.

With the team experiencing so many injuries this season, the club could use all the depth it can get.

The train of thought would be that Nashville general manager David Poile would be in search of such a commodity.

In fact, Poile did make a deal invovling a defenseman yesterday, but it was to trade away one, not acquire one.

With the acquisition of Mike Fisher already paying off dividends, Nashville Predators general manager David Poile will be looking to see who exactly is available over the next six days.

As the annual NHL trade deadline sets up for next Monday, rumors are starting to turn into deals in advance of the deadline. Will the Predators be involved?

While the NHL's western conference is a tight as a drum, the Predators have done well at keeping pace with others while going both hot and cold at opportune times this season.

VANCOUVER—"Defense wins championships." Canucks followers can relate to this quote particularly well these last few weeks.

The Vancouver Canucks suffered a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. As much as the forwards tried to reduce opponents getting scoring chances in their own zone, the Canucks suffered both defensively and offensively Thursday.

With the Nashville Predators acquisition of center Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, the Predators fill a huge need at center.

The lost of centers Matthew Lombardi and Cal O'Reilly have added more than 75 man games lost.

For the record, the Predators have lost 209 man games so far this season and that number will continue to climb.

With 18 days to go before the NHL trade deadline, the Nashville Predators acquired forward Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators today in exchange for a 2011 first-round pick and a 2012 conditional draft pick.

This is a great move for the Predators. As they now set their sights on the NHL playoffs, the Mike Fisher acquisition gives Nashville fans five reasons to look forward to the rest of the season.

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The Nashville Predators acquired center Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators for a 2011 first-round pick and a 2012 conditional draft pick.

The pick in 2012 will be a third-round selection if the Preds make the playoffs this year and a second-round pick if they advance past the first round. 

Fisher had 14 goals and 10 assists in 55 games for the Senators this season and has two more years on his deal with a $4.2 million cap hit. He is winning 48.4 percent of his faceoffs this year.

Hang on to your hats Predators fans as the 2010-11 season continues to be one of many ups and downs.

The boys from Smashville arrived back home after there second west coast trip of the season and promptly swept the California trio with wins in Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose.

A very good showing considering the Preds last voyage to the west coast back in early November, losing to Detroit, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Anaheim before pulling out a nail biter against the St.Louis Blues to end the losing streak.