Predators: Behind The Scenes

Predators: Behind The Scenes

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After a tough loss to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout on Feb. 22, the Nashville Predators get ready for their next match - against their Central Division rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, at home. Here is an inside look in the preparation going into that game. <br><br> Friday 8:43AM<br> Head coach Barry Trotz (right) and video coach Robert Bouchard go over video of the Red Wings. All talk of the galling loss to Montreal -- in which the Preds blew three two-goal leads -- has been strictly forbidden by Trotz. The focus is solely on Detroit now.

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Friday 10:22AM<br> Right wing Steve Sullivan checks out the notes on the bulletin board in the locker room.

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Friday 10:23AM <br> Newly acquired center Peter Forsberg, claiming never to have lost a game of ping-pong during his stint with the Flyers, takes on Tomas Vokoun (with Chris Mason once again relegated to watch from the bench). Forsberg loses. He was later beaten by Martin Erat before taking his re-match with Vokoun.

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Friday 10:45AM<br> Goalies Chris Mason and Tomas Vokoun get dressed for practice.

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Friday 10:50AM<br> Head coach Barry Trotz talks to his players in the locker room before practice.

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Friday 12:17PM<br> Center David Legwand, the first player drafted by the Predators before their inaugural season in 1998, leads the team in stretching. The ensuing practice would be high-spirited and energetic.

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Saturday 9:10AM<br> Left wing Paul Kariya starts game day by carefully preparing his sticks.

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Saturday 9:56AM<br>Right wing Jordin Tootoo gets his skate sharpened in the locker room before the morning skate.

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Saturday 10:05AM<br> Goalie Chris Mason heads to the ice for the morning skate. Mason did not start that night.

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Saturday 5:30PM<br> Head coach Barry Trotz talks strategy with his players during the pre-game meeting that runs longer than usual -- a standard for games against Detroit. The Preds are intent on neutralizing the Wings' power play, outsmarting their penalty-killers and aggressively attacking Detroit's forechecking system.

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Saturday 5:46PM<br> Jason Arnott (left) and J.P. Dumont ride stationary bikes to warm up for the game.

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Saturday 5:54PM<br> Right wing Jordin Tootoo and teammates warm up by playing a little soccer in the hallway.

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Saturday 6:24PM<br> Peter Forsberg straps on his equipment before the sold-out game against the Red Wings. Forsberg later posted his first point as a Predator (assisting on Paul Kariya's first-period score) before scoring his first goal as a Pred, as he potted a backhand pass from Kariya at 2:11 of overtime for a 4-3 win that pushed Nashville past Detroit and into first place in the Central.