Does any team have a bigger buzz around it than the Nashville Predators?In less than a year, the Predators have been involved in two of the biggest blockbusters in recent history, acquiring center Ryan Johansen and defenseman P.K. Subban and continuing the transformation of a once defense-first hockey club into an exciting, puck-possession, offensive outfit.The end result? The Preds enter the season as a popular pick to go a long way.Theres no question that the expectations are maybe higher than theyve ever been before, said veteran Predators GM David Poile. I have to take that as a good thing. I realize we havent won a game yet, we have to play them, and all those clichés I can give you. But the fact is, a lot of people think we have a good club and I believe our players think that, I know our coaches do, and well do our best to fulfill our expectations.Last seasons first-round win against the Anaheim Ducks signaled the Predators ascension. Theyll need veteran goalie Pekka Rinne to bounce back this season and theyll need goals from players other than Filip Forsberg and James Neal.But with the NHLs best blue-line corps led by Roman Josi, the skys the limit for this team.Best new facesSubban brings his razzle-dazzle game to the Music City in what seems like a perfect fit, not just in the sense of a market embracing his ebullient personality, but certainly on the ice where head coach Peter Laviolette espouses an aggressive, offensive-minded game. Subban should feel he has more freedom here than he did in Montreal.Joining a blue-line that already has Josi -- is there a Norris Trophy in his near future? -- as well as Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Yannick Weber and Matt Carle underlines this teams No. 1 strength: puck-possessing, puck-moving D.Carle might prove to be a sneaky signing at just one year for $700,000. Bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, and freed of the burden of that big contract he signed, a third-pairing role with low expectations should bode well for the veteran Carle on this team. Plus, hes reunited with Laviolette, under whom he played some of his best hockey with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in his career.Biggest unknownsWho else will score goals other than Forsberg (33 goals last season) and Neal (31 goals)?How about Colin Wilson, who had just six goals and 18 assists in 64 regular-season games last season but then put up five goals and eight assists in 14 playoff games? Everyone loves a player who steps up come playoff time, which Wilson also did the previous spring with five playoff goals in six games, but the Predators would love Wilson, 26, to also show that kind of production in the regular season. It would go a long way to alleviate the teams scoring concerns up front.Absolutely. That is a question, said Poile. Weve kind of labeled him Playoff Wilson. Well, we need him to be not only Playoff Wilson but also Regular-Season Wilson. Theres no question he can do it because weve seen it on occasion the last two playoffs. This year, hes a year older, more mature, wiser, our expectations are very high for him to have a good regular season in addition to a good playoffs. Just by him scoring at the rate that he should be, that could be a huge difference for us.Another unknown is Rinne, who turns 34 in early November. After years of saving this teams bacon, the aging goalie must now prove hes still capable of a prime-time performance. His save percentage dipped from .923 in 2014-15 to .908 last season. Rinne needs to be good for the Predators to be a true Cup contender.And finally, what about the loss of longtime captain Shea Weber, traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Subban? His presence in the dressing room leaves a crater on the leadership front, no matter what anybody says. Talk to other players on Team Canada during the World Cup, not to mention head coach Mike Babcock, and the respect and admiration for Weber as a leader is through the roof.Veteran center Mike Fisher was named captain, an excellent choice; hes as respected as any player in that room. But it remains a question mark entering this season how the team will fill Webers overall leadership skills.Sure thingsThe blue-line corps, as mentioned, for my money is the best in the NHL. Its going to carry this team to many a win this season.Up front, Forsberg continues to improve as an elite goal scorer, and hes only 22. He put up 26 goals in his first full NHL season two years ago and followed that up with 33 last season. No reason he cant get to 37-40 goals this season if he stays healthy.PredictionIm banking on Rinne bouncing back and the offense up front getting better. I just love the way this team plays and how that blue-line corps is constructed. The Central Division race is going to be an absolute beast, where Id argue four teams can all win it. But give me the Preds atop the division when the regular season ends in April, and a deep playoff run to follow. First in the Central. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Juston-Burris-Jersey/ . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Wayne-Chrebet-Jersey/ . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Brent-Qvale-Jersey/ . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Terrence-Brooks-Jersey/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Curtis-Martin-Jersey/ ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. NEW YORK -- The New York Mets wont get far in the wild-card race losing games theyre supposed to win.Oscar Hernandez hit his first major league homer in the 12th inning, leading the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory over the Mets on Wednesday night for their second consecutive win over the contending team.The Mets have lost 14 of their past 19 games but remain only 2 1/2 back of the Miami Marlins for the second NL wild card.Weve been through these tough times, Mets manager Terry Collins said. But were just not coming through when we need to as we did a year ago.Hernandez was recalled from Double-A Mobile after Arizona placed catcher Welington Castillo on the paternity list Tuesday. Playing his first game this season, Hernandez drove a sinker from Jerry Blevins (4-2) down the left-field line in his fifth at-bat of the season.He played 18 games with Arizona in 2015 as a Rule 5 draft pick from Tampa Bay, collecting five hits in 31 at-bats. He was optioned to Class A Visalia to begin this season.We havent really had the season that we wanted to, Arizona starter Robbie Ray said. Wins like these are huge.The Mets Kelly Johnson forced extra innings with a two-run homer in the ninth off closer Jake Barrett. The blown save was Barretts fourth in eight chances.I thought we were going to win the game, Collins said. I just thought with the momentum, the energy, I thought we were going to get a base hit and win the game. We just didnt do it.Johnsons blast was needed after Ray spun seven shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Ray was perfect until Ty Kellys fourth-inning single.Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 4, driving in the first two Arizona runs, and Jean Segura and Chris Owings each had three hits. Segura added two stolen bases and scored two runs. Arizona stole four bases on the night and has nine steals through the first two games in the series, breaking the franchise mark for steals in a three-game series with Thursdays matchup still to come. New York came into the game with a minus-67 stolen base differential, the worst mark in the majors.We knew they were an aggressive running team coming in, so theyre doing exactly what we thought they would, catcher Travis dArnaud said.Bartolo Colon started for the Mets, allowing one run on seven hits, strikking out eight over seven innings of work.dddddddddddd Colon has allowed one run or fewer in nine starts this season. The eight strikeouts matched a season-high. Arizona is the only major league team Colon has never beaten.Neil Walker added two hits for the Mets, who fell to 0-3 in extra-inning games played at Citi Field.T.J. Rivera, from nearby Throgs Neck in the Bronx, made his major league debut at third base in front of about 30 friends and family members. He picked up his first big league hit in the tenth and handled all of his chances in the field.I think after I got my first hit, it kind of felt like, OK, a lot of weight comes off, Rivera said.Randall Delgado (3-1) pitched two perfect innings for the win.TRAINING ROOMMets: INF Jose Reyes (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Brooklyn on Thursday. His assignment had been delayed because the switch-hitter was still having trouble swinging from the right side, general manager Sandy Alderson said on Tuesday.CAPTAIN AMERICA IS GENEROUS TOOInjured Mets star David Wright made sure that those closest to Rivera were close by when the infielder made his debut. Wright gave Rivera four tickets behind home plate so that his parents, wife and sister could be within earshot of the 27-year old.PLAY WIFFLE BALLArizonas Patrick Corbin joined New Yorks Wilmer Flores and Rene Rivera at a Play Ball Derby at Hudson River Parks Pier 63. The players participated in a wiffle ball derby, launching balls into the river at floating targets. Children from local Boys and Girls clubs and other baseball organizations participated alongside the players. Corbin, the non-hitter of the group, won the derby.UP NEXTMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-6, 2.64 ERA) looks to snap a career-worst five-start winless streak. The All-Star hurler struggled in his last start, allowing four runs in six innings in Detroit, but has pitched to a 5-3 record with a 2.41 ERA at Citi Field this season.Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley (1-1, 4.15 ERA) takes to the mound in the series finale for his fourth major league start. After struggling in his debut, hes thrown back-to-back quality starts, allowing two runs over his last 12 innings. Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic China Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '