Smashville Scope: January 25

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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The typical game-day itinerary for a Predators player on the road hasn't changed all that much - breakfast, morning skate, lunch, nap, snack and then faceoff.
But everything else that typically comes with being away from home - a nice meal out, a walk around town, and even stepping out of the hotel room without a mask - has been erased from the to-do list.
That's just the way things are these days as the NHL's 2020-21 season continues amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Preds got their first taste of life on the road this season over the past few days in Dallas. Most on the roster had a similar experience in the NHL's bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but this time around, the bubble isn't completely sealed, necessitating the need for players, coaches and staff to exercise some extra caution.

"They're similar but different," Preds forward Matt Duchene said, comparing the Edmonton bubble to the hotel setup in Dallas. "It's nice to travel to cities. It's nice to be the only team in the whole hotel - it's kind of awkward when you're walking around the bubble [in Edmonton] and you're seeing a whole bunch of other teams and stuff like that. You know [your stay] is not going to potentially be for a long time, we know how long it's going to be, and even with all the precautions and stuff, we're still able to socially distance and spend time together. Guys have been good doing that, and I feel like we have a closer team this year, so that's been really good."
As the Predators flew from Nashville to Dallas on Thursday, all members of the travelling party were required to keep their mask on during the flight unless they were eating. All meals on the plane are now individually packaged to cut down on preparation from flight attendants, and NHL protocols ask players not to eat at the same time as someone else in their row.
When the Preds arrived in Dallas on Thursday, most players typically would have checked into their room and headed out for dinner at a local restaurant with teammates. Instead, suppertime came in the meal room at the hotel, and time spent in a players' lounge followed, an area set up at the hotel with televisions, PlayStations and areas to relax while remaining six feet apart from one another at all times.
"We'll be at the hotel [when we're not at the rink], and we're just going to have to live with that," Preds forward Colton Sissons said. "[It used to be] nice to get out in the city and go to a restaurant and hang with your teammates a little bit, but hey, it is what it is. It just felt like we were re-entering the bubble in Edmonton when we flew in [Thursday], so we've got some lounge setups for TVs and we can watch hockey and there's some PS4s and whatnot set up. We'll be all right, but we'll have to stay busy somehow."

Just like they do in Nashville every morning at Bridgestone Arena, the day starts with a COVID test - temperature check and nasal swab - before players head to the meal room for breakfast. In this case, a large ballroom was used at the team hotel in Dallas, and only four seats per table were set to allow for as much distancing as possible. Food is served by hotel staff stationed behind plastic windows to cut down on interaction and eliminate players touching serving utensils.
As soon as the meal is consumed, masks are back on, and they must be worn by players unless they are on the ice or working out. Players are spaced out on buses as well, and the bus may only be filled to 50 percent capacity while out and about.
Hand sanitizer is always at the ready wherever anyone goes, and players are generally asked to use common sense and continue the practices we've all come to know over the past 10 months - wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance.
It's certainly a different experience than what anyone is used to, but as a gentleman was overheard saying inside American Airlines Center on Sunday, we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and that's what's keeping him going.
Suffice to say, he's not alone.

Predators & Hurricanes Game Rescheduled:

The Carolina Hurricanes will be back in Nashville on March 2.
The Preds had their first game postponement of the season last week when their Jan. 19 matchup with Carolina had to be called off due to COVID issues with the Canes. On Monday, the NHL announced that the contest has been rescheduled for a 7 p.m. CT start on March 2 at Bridgestone Arena.
The Hurricanes won the first meeting of the season between the two by a 4-2 final on Jan. 18.

Mike Fisher Celebrates Son's Birthday with Hilarious Photo:

The youngest member of the Fisher family has already discovered his own style, and it's fantastic.
Mike Fisher and his wife, Carrie Underwood, both celebrated their son Jacob's second birthday with social media posts this past week, but the former Preds captain shared an image worth sharing again.
Young Jacob is sporting sunglasses, Batman pajamas and hockey skates - quite a look overall - in the photo, and Fisher added a heartfelt caption to go alongside.

"Happy 2nd birthday Jacob! You've brought so much joy to our family the last 2 years! Your laugh may just be the best thing in the world:) Can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the years ahead! #happybirthday"
Happy belated birthday, Jacob!

Sign Up for Preds Blood Drive with the American Red Cross:

Preds fans already helped to save more than 10,000 lives in 2020
, and you can raise that number in 2021.
The Nashville Predators are teaming up with the American Red Cross again to host blood drives all over the region from Feb. 22 to 26. All presenting donors will receive a Preds and Red Cross branded foam puck and be entered to win a Preds and Red Cross branded puck signed by a current Preds player.

To make an appointment visit
www.redcrossblood.org
and enter sponsor code Preds19, and
click here to learn more about the partnership
.

Mic'd Up:

Goal of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

The Week Ahead:

Tuesday vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Wednesday vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSN Radio: 102.5 The Game
Saturday at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Monday at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game

Predators Official Podcast:

The Predators get out to a 2-1-0 start to the 2020-21 season; what have we learned so far? Brooks Bratten and Thomas Willis discuss their early-season observations (11:13), and they chat with defenseman Luca Sbisa (20:30) about joining the Preds after being claimed on waivers from Winnipeg. Plus, the Predators deal with a postponed game (4:10), and Twitter questions are answered (45:45).

Week in Review:

Preds to Honor Metro Nashville Police Officers Following Wins This Season
Poile Talks Taxi Squad, AHL Roster Decisions for Preds
Childhood Friends Josi, Sbisa Reunited in Nashville with Preds
Preds Staff Launch GUIDER Initiative to Promote Positive Change