Smashville Scope: May 13

The NHL continues to explore options and devise plans to return to the ice this summer and finish the 2019-20 season. They're now the only professional hockey league doing so.
On Monday, the American Hockey League officially announced the cancelation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season, as the coronavirus pandemic continues across the globe.
The Predators' top minor-league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, sat atop the entire AHL standings for a majority of the campaign.

"After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,"
the AHL said in a statement
. "The League's operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season. We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months. The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21."
As a result of the season coming to a close, the Admirals will receive a number of accolades thanks to their outstanding statistics.
From the Ads:
"The Admirals own the best record in the league at 41-14-5-3, good for 91 points and a .714 points percentage. They will take home the regular-season titles for the Central Division, Western Conference and the entire AHL.
"The Ads have been in the top spot in the league since their team-record 13-game winning streak from Nov. 2 through Dec. 1. They conclude their remarkable 50th season with the most wins, fewest regulation losses, highest points percentage and the only team with at least 90 points. Milwaukee allowed the fewest goals in the league (141), scored the second most (211) for an amazing +70 goal differential."
Admirals Governor & CEO Harris Turer and Head Coach Karl Taylor also
penned a letter to fans
as the record season came to a close.
"This 50th season of Admirals hockey had so many memorable moments, starting last summer with the rollout of the 50th season logo to a team record 13-game winning streak to Darren Haydar's number retirement to a sellout crowd at our last game," the letter said in part. "We had a great team of young men performing at a very high level all season long. We are proud of the numerous call-ups to Nashville who have helped keep the Predators in the Stanley Cup Playoff race."
Daniel Carr finishes the season as Milwaukee's leading scorer with 23 goals and 50 points in 47 games. Eeli Tolvanen (21), Rem Pitlick (20) and Yakov Trenin (20) all hit the 20-goal mark with the Ads, and Alexandre Carrier had 37 points from the blueline.
Goaltenders Troy Grosenick and Connor Ingram - who each appeared in 33 games - formed the most formidable netminding tandem in the league this season. Ingram finished with 21 wins to go along with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Grosenick recorded 20 wins, and the Milwaukee native was recently named the AHL's Man of the Year.
Additionally, Grosenick and Ingram are
the recipients of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
for the 2019-20 season. Since 1972, the award has been presented to the goaltender(s) with at least 25 games played on the team which allows the fewest goals per game in the regular season. The Admirals allowed an average of 2.24 goals per game in 2019-20. Milwaukee finished with the fewest goals against in the AHL for the first time in the franchise's 19 seasons in the league.

Preds Nominated for NHL Fan Choice Awards:

Pekka Rinne's goalie goal might just win the title of the NHL's best tally this season, and you have the power to make it happen.
Voting for the 2020 NHL Fan Choice Awards is now open
, and Rinne, along with Preds team dog, Smash, Preds mascot, Gnash, and Bridgestone Arena are all up for honors in this year's installment.

Fans may vote across all 20 categories through June 1, 2020, and share their selections across their social platforms with the official hashtag #NHLFanChoice.
The winners of the 20 categories will be announced on June 3 and celebrated in social media posts across NHL social media platforms.

Fox Sports Tennessee Airing Golden Classics:

There's a way to get your hockey fix, and it continues on Thursday night.
The Preds host the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 of Round 2 from the 2017 run to the Stanley Cup Final, as all 14 of Nashville's victories in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to be re-aired over the next five weeks.
They're called Predators Golden Classics, and the games are airing on Fox Sports Tennessee, plus additional networks. The Preds have already swept the Blackhawks, and Round 2 against the Blues is underway.
Games will be shown at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the beginning game of each series, as well as the clinching game, will start with reflections from Preds broadcasters Willy Daunic and Chris Mason, as well as some special guest appearances along the way. Viktor Arvidsson, Colton Sissons, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis and Pekka Rinne will offer their insight on some of the top moments from the run as the playoffs continue along.
Plus, not only will those in the Predators viewing area be able to enjoy the replays, but the games will also be shown throughout the entire Fox Sports South region, including into the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Click here for more information and a full schedule
.

Virtual Preds Facing St. Louis in Western Conference Final:

Thanks to wins over the Golden Knights and Canucks, the Preds are now one of just four clubs still alive in the virtual 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nashville is facing St. Louis in the Western Conference Final, while Philadelphia and Toronto are squaring off in the East.
The Predators are using EA Sports' "NHL20" video game to simulate every playoff game and determine a virtual 2020 Stanley Cup Champion. Each Preds game is streamed live on @PredsNHL Twitter, Twitch, Facebook and YouTube.
Game 2 presented by Premier Parking between the Preds and Blues takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Click here for more information and a full schedule
.

Preds Face Coverings at Nashville Locker Room:

Staying safe during this pandemic is paramount, and with restrictions beginning to ease in many parts of the country, wearing a face covering in public is quickly becoming part of daily life.
Now, you can do so while showing your Predators pride.

Preds face masks are now available for pre-order on NashvilleLockerRoom.com, as well as all other Predators gear you may be looking for as well.
Check out the site
for the masks, as well as the popular Mystery Boxes filled with gear from your favorite team.

Future Goals:

While the family is safe at home, the NHL's Future Goals program is a great way to integrate hockey and learning.
The League is now offering free remote access to their online program, which includes an interactive, hockey-themed, STEM curriculum course for middle and elementary-school students (Hockey Scholar) and a program that provides elementary-school students the tools they need to make healthy eating and lifestyle choices (Healthier Me). You can now sign up for both programs from the comfort of your home, completely free of charge.
The Predators want to encourage you and your classmates to get involved by participating in NHL Future Goals online learning modules. To make both programs even more fun, Ford Ice Center is giving away free birthday party packages to 10 students who complete these programs now through May 15.
Click here for more information and to start learning
.

Predators Official Podcast:

Former Preds Captain Mike Fisher joins the show to talk about life on his farm, reminisce about his time with the Predators and pass along some unique marriage advice. Plus, Brooks Bratten and Thomas Willis analyze some of the NHL resumption rumors, including a potential 24-team tournament.