Preds Practice Ponderings: December 14

Less than 24 hours after scoring the goal that started his team's miraculous comeback, James Neal was doing his part once more.
Thanks to his second annual hockey clinic this past September to benefit Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Predators assistant captain presented the organization with a check totaling more than $12,700 to go directly toward helping Make-A-Wish grant the wishes of those who deserve them most.

No. 250 for No. 35
Since the NHL began play in the 1917-18 season, 591 goaltenders - some with masks, some without - have at least one recorded victory to their name. There are fewer - 51 to be exact - who have done that on 250 occasions. Add Preds netminder Pekka Rinne to that elite club.
Rinne made 23 saves in a 6-3 win against St. Louis to hit the mark in only 470 games played, an impressive mark compared to most around him on the list.

"It's a lot of wins, but I think there's a reflection in those wins in how he approaches every day," Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Rinne. "Practice days, game days, morning skates, he works at his craft and he works at his game all the time. He always wants to get better and because he does that and approaches every day like that, I think you feel better and you put yourself in a position to take down 250 wins. It's good for him, but it's also well earned."
"It's a nice number and hopefully there's a lot more to come," Rinne said. "I've been able to play for quite a long time now and with good teams, winning teams, so that's how it's possible."
Vote Subban
P.K. Subban was already a likely candidate to represent the Predators during 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles at the end of January, but if he keeps up his current pace, he may be doing so with a letter on his jersey.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Subban is the Central Division leader when it comes to All-Star Fan Voting. The player who earns the most votes from each of the four divisions will be named captain of his team during the weekend, including the 3-on-3 All-Star tournament.
And No. 76 is doing just fine.
Voting continues through Jan. 2 with fans allowed up to 10 votes per day
. Don't stop now, Smashville.
Saros Returns
Prior to Wednesday's practice, the Preds recalled goaltender Juuse Saros from Milwaukee and assigned netminder Marek Mazanec to the Admirals. Saros joined his teammates on the ice at Bridgestone Arena as they prepared for the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.