Smashville Scope: January 18

The Smashville Scope presented by JOCKEY prepares fans for the week ahead with news, videos and clips from the past week, plus, game and event info for the next seven days. Use promo code "GOAL" to save 25% on your next JOCKEY purchase.
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Health and safety of players and staff has always been paramount for the Predators, and that mantra has taken on a whole new meaning during the 2020-21 NHL season.
Doing anything in a pandemic offers plenty of unique challenges, and the Preds - as well as every team in the League - have adopted a slew of new protocols in an attempt to keep their personnel healthy throughout the next four months and beyond.
Even on off days, Predators players, coaches and hockey operations staff are tested in the morning, and when they're at the rink, mask wearing and hand sanitizing are just the start of the precautions, but the changes are already becoming second nature for those on the inside.

Check out this behind-the-scenes video as Preds goaltender Juuse Saros shows what he goes through on a daily basis at Bridgestone Arena before he straps on his pads, all in an effort to keep Smashville Strong.

Forsberg Slots Second on Preds All-Time Goals List:

When the Predators acquired Filip Forsberg eight years ago - a promising prospect back in 2013 - they had hopes he would one day become not only a regular in their lineup, but a star winger as well.
Eight years later, the Swede has now put the puck in the net 168 times for the Preds, and his strike on Opening Night has earned him another notch in the franchise's record book.
Forsberg scored what proved to be the game-winner in Nashville's 3-1 win over Columbus on Thursday, and career goal No. 167 moved him into sole possession of second-place on the team's all-time goals list.

Forsberg passed Shea Weber, who scored 166 goals with the Predators from 2005-16, and he now sits behind only David Legwand on the team's all-time goals list; Legwand tallied 210 in 566 games with Nashville. Forsberg's 166 goals since the start of the 2014-15 campaign - his first full NHL season - are tied for the 20th-most in the League in that time span.
The winger has also opened the campaign with goals in each of his first two games for the second-straight season; he started last season with goals in four-straight games.

Preds Don Willie O'Ree Helmet Decals:

The Preds will have a new addition to their buckets for the next month and a half.
In celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Willie O'Ree becoming the first black player in League history, NHL players will wear helmet decals from now through the end of February. The decals will also observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The decal features an image of O'Ree with the words "Celebrating Equality."

The holiday, which falls on Jan. 18 this year, coincides with the anniversary of O'Ree becoming the NHL's first Black player when he skated with the Boston Bruins in 1958 in Montreal.
O'Ree played 45 NHL games over two seasons (1957-58, 1960-61), all with the Bruins, despite being blind in his right eye, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018 for his off-ice accomplishments as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador. O'Ree made a visit to Nashville last season while the NHL's Black Hockey History mobile museum was in town.

Fan Cutouts Available to Place Inside Bridgestone Arena:

You may not be able to attend a Predators game at Bridgestone Arena just yet, but your likeness still can.
Show your Preds pride by purchasing a fan cutout, presented by Bridgestone, and take your seat inside Nashville's home building. Fans may support the team with a fan cutout of themselves, family members and even their pets.
The cutouts are available for $90 each, and $10 from every cutout purchased will support the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily. Fans will also be able to keep their cutout at the end of the season.
Click here to purchase
and make sure you're still represented while cheering on your favorite team.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

Preds Head Coach John Hynes on receiving contributions throughout the lineup to start the season:
"It's something we felt we had coming into the season, and we've added some talented players to our team that have offensive abilities and are really hard players to play against. We have a lot of returning players that can [contribute], but it's good to see because it's something where you have to be a complete team to win. We're going to need to be a complete team to win this year, whether it's how we play defensively, or like tonight, we got offensive contributions throughout the lineup. That's what you need to be able to win, so that's a good sign moving forward."

Shot of the Week:

…and there's more where that came from.
Predators vs. Blue Jackets Opening Night Photo Gallery
Predators vs. Blue Jackets Jan. 16 Photo Gallery

The Week Ahead:

Monday vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Tuesday vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Friday at Dallas Stars, 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Sunday at Dallas Stars, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game

Predators Official Podcast:

The 2020-21 NHL season is officially underway. Nashville is victorious on Opening Night with new players making an immediate impact. Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman joins the show to discuss the Preds and the "most unpredictable season" of all time. Plus, Brooks Bratten and Thomas Willis analyze Nashville's roster and answer your Twitter questions from the week.

Week in Review:

Preds Score Four in Third to Beat Blue Jackets Again
Nashville Newcomers Impress In Debut, Set Tone for Preds Identity
Preds Honor Nashville Police Officers, Frontline Workers on Opening Night
Preds Come Back to Beat Blue Jackets on Opening Night in Nashville
Hynes Talks Roster, Taxi Squad as Preds Make Decisions for Opening Night
Get to Know Preds Assistant Coaches Todd Richards, Dan Hinote
Preds Players, Foundation Host Virtual Community Relations Day
Preds Foundation, Red Cross Combine to Help Save Over 10,000 Lives