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Gaudreau, Rinne Lead Preds Past Blues to Sweep Homestand
Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators acknowledges the cheering fans following a 1-0 shutout against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on November 3, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. [Photo by John Russell/NHL.com]
Four different Predators scored and Pekka Rinne reached another milestone as Nashville defeated the St. Louis Blues by a 4-1 final on Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The result gives the Preds a clean sweep of their three-game homestand and keeps them atop the NHL standings.
Three of those who found the back of the net on Wednesday – Frederick Gaudreau, Austin Watson and Ryan Ellis – each got their first of the season, and then, there was the goaltender.
Rinne made 28 saves to earn his 320th career victory to pass Miikka Kiprusoff and become the winningest Finnish-born goaltender in NHL history.
“A long time ago, it wasn’t even close to being on my mind,” Rinne said of the record. “When I was just trying to battle my way into the League, these are the things you are going to wish for. It’s pretty cool. When you’re fortunate and stay in the League for a long time, you know you’re going to face some milestones. This one, for sure, is a cool one.”
Nashville got the game’s opening tally, and it was Gaudreau who poked home a loose puck at the side of the net for the first regular-season goal of his career for a 1-0 lead.
St. Louis evened the score before the period was out as Robert Thomas got his first in the NHL, but in the middle frame, Filip Forsberg picked off a pass at the point while shorthanded and cashed in on a breakaway for his 14th of the season and a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes.
In the third, Watson fired a puck from the half wall that eluded Jake Allen to extend Nashville’s lead. Then, while shorthanded, Ellis caught up to a loose puck and finished it into an empty net to knock the proverbial monkey off his back and give his club a three-game win streak once more.
Against the Blues, who had a new head coach in Craig Berube after Mike Yeo was let go on Monday, the Predators knew they would have to match their opponent’s intensity. They did that and then some, just the way they hoped to start the home-and-home set with St. Louis.
“That was a huge win for us,” Gaudreau said. “When you have a new coach like that, everyone’s fired up. We had to match that intensity and that energy and see that and I think we did.”
Wednesday’s triumph put an exclamation point on the homestand after the Preds faced their first real bit of adversity of the season with an 0-2-1 stretch last week. But now, that seems like eons ago.
“We did some good things on the road,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “We lost some games and that’s a good way to reset, but I felt like we could’ve won all those games too. We were up in San Jose. We had those chances in the end in Anaheim, and I really like the way we played in Phoenix. It didn’t happen, but it’s about winning hockey games and I thought our guys just stayed with it. The leaders took over, we got back home, started picking up from the way we played in Arizona and started putting our foot down at home. It was good to get back on track and get some wins back in our building.”
First for Freddy:
Yes, there is a technicality to this stat.
Technically Frederick Gaudreau has scored in the NHL before. Three times, in fact, all coming during the Stanley Cup Final with the Preds in 2017. He made a name for himself on that stage.
However, in 41 regular-season games, he had never accomplished the same feat. Until Wednesday night.
After multiple chances during a net mouth scramble, it was everyone’s favorite French Canadian who finished the play, and while some play it cool when they pot their first, Gaudreau’s reaction gave him away.
“Those [Stanley Cup Final goals] were a while ago,” Gaudreau laughed. “I just tried to keep my game simple those past three years and believe the offense would come. It feels good for sure to get that one. I’m just trying to focus on doing the right things. I’m not trying to think too far in those goals and stuff. It feels good for sure to get that one.”
“Freddy works so hard and he’s so skilled,” Watson said of Gaudreau. “It’s tough when those games start to pile up a little bit and you might grip the stick a little bit, but kudos to him for just playing with confidence and being able to pull through.”
As of late, Gaudreau has earned the praises of his head coach, even if he wasn’t scoring. Wednesday’s result was a bonus, and those who know him best couldn’t have been happier for the man they simply call Freddy.
“It seems like he’s gaining confidence in being here and inside of his game,” Laviolette said. He’s been really good in the face-off circle. I think he’s a student of the game. I think he puts a lot of thought into the game on how it should be played. The opportunities that he’s gotten lately, both defensively and offensively, have been very good.”
Notes:
Filip Forsberg’s shorthanded goal was the fifth of his career and his first since the 2016-17 season.
Forsberg now has 22 points (11g-11a) in 21 career games against the Blues, including points in seven of his last eight contests against them.
Nashville has now won seven of its last eight games against St. Louis – including five in a row – and has scored at least four goals in five of those wins.
At home, the Preds are riding a six-game win streak versus the Blues.
The Predators will now travel to St. Louis to finish off a home-and-home set with the Blues on Friday before returning home to host Anaheim on Sunday night in Nashville.
Game ending call from Pete Weber
Bucks Open TCCAA with Wins, Head to Missouri for Thanksgiving
The Motlow State Community College men’s basketball team seated, from left, are Bryce McBride, Nic Barstad, Jaellan White, Justin Hill, Leo Castillo, Jr., Kin Webster, Derrick Rayford, Darius Harding and Moses Fofana. Standing, from left, are Arthur Latham, head coach; Anterrious Ryhan, Ronald Blount, Jayven Humphrey, Marcus Lacey, Kiyon Sowell, Josh Endicott, Jarius Key, Josh Greer, Gabriel Martin, Kashawn Bradley, and Nick Porter, assistant coach. [Motlow staff photo]
Motlow (2-0, 3-3) beat Jackson State 90-80 Friday night before edging Columbia State 77-74 Saturday. The Bucks will travel to Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri, for the Thanksgiving holiday, facing State Fair Community College on Friday and the host school, ranked No. 11 in the nation in the preseason NJCAA poll, on Saturday.
Motlow sophomore Joshua Greer and freshman Marcus Lacey each recorded double-doubles Friday night as the Bucks overcame a 46-43 halftime deficit to beat the visiting Green Jays. Lacey led Motlow with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Greer scored 16 and had 10 boards, two assists and two blocked shots.
Darius Harding added 14 points, three rebounds and three steals, and Nic Barstad scored 13 points with a pair of rebounds. Jarius Key scored nine points with six rebounds and Kin Webster had seven points and six rebounds. The Bucks shot 49.3 percent from the field, despite hitting only 5-18 three pointers and connecting on 17-29 free-throw attempts.
Another slow start was followed by a strong second half Saturday, as the Bucks trailed the Columbia State Chargers 50-40 at intermission before storming back to secure their second conference win. Motlow shot the ball better, hitting 51 percent of its shots from the field, 6-18 three pointers, and 13-18 free throws.
Leo Castillo and Moses Fofana each scored 12 points for the Bucks, with Castillo adding 10 rebounds and four assists and Fofana grabbing four steals with two assists. Josh Endicott had 11 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, Harding scored eight with four rebounds and two steals, Lacey had eight points with five rebounds, and Greer and Barstad each added six points.
11/24/18 — Melva Dean Ramsey Little
Funeral services for Mrs. Melva Dean Ramsey Little, age, 85, of Manchester, TN will be conducted at 11:00 A.M on Saturday, November 24, 2018, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Goodhope Cemetery in Livingston, TN. The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 9:00 A.M until the service time.
Melva was born in Overton County, TN the daughter of the late Charles and Addieville Ramsey. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Manchester. Melva enjoyed quilting, cooking, loved music, and most of all spending time with her beloved family.
In addition to her parents, Melva is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Little; three brothers, Clifford Ramsey, Castle Ramsey, and Hollis Ramsey. She is survived by two sons, Robert Bruce Little (Kathy) and Gilbert Little (Lanai); four grandchildren, Justin Little (Allison), Travis Little (Heather), Kael Hyde (Justin), and Lauren Baker (Chris); three great grandchildren, Samantha Little, Wesley Little, and Addilyn Hyde.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Little family.
11/21/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Payton Jones, 11 — Pizza Winner!
Donavan Weaver, 31
C.J. Pritchett, 4
Barbara Trammell
Walter Lowery, 76
Taylor Adams, 22
Patsy Miller
Mike Foster
11/20/18 — Birthdays
No birthdays to report
Lady Bucks Beat Jackson State to Raise Record to 4-1
The Motlow Lady Bucks outscored visiting TCCAA opponent Jackson State 27-8 in the second quarter to take a 48-30 lead into intermission on their way to an 82-68 win over the Green Jays Friday night at Copperweld Arena.
The Lady Bucks (1-0, 4-1) have now won three consecutive contests heading into a break for the holidays. Motlow will travel to Birmingham to face Lawson State on Monday, Nov. 26, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The next home contest is Dec. 1, when TCCAA rival Volunteer State visits for a 4 p.m. tip.
Trailing 22-21 after one quarter, the Lady Bucks overwhelmed the visitors in the second stanza and kept the pressure on in the second half. Motlow shot only 41.8 percent from the field, but connected on 9-21 three pointers and hit 17-23 free throws.
Janna Lewis continued to play at a high level, leading five double-figure scorers with 18 points along with 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Dominique Fields scored 16 and added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Tanisia Murphy scored 13 points with six assists, Katie Thomas connected on 4-6 three pointers and had 12 points, Star Bell-Freeman scored 11 points with five rebounds, and Taylor Holcomb had seven points, three steals and two rebounds. Azhane Bacot scored five points but filled out the rest of the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, seven assists, six steals and two blocked shots.
Settlement Offer is the works for the woman who took Coffee County Government to Court
It looks like a case where a former employee of Coffee County government took the county to court over her losing her job, might soon have a financial settlement.
On May 27, 2010, Melinda Keeling was fired from the Coffee County codes department. At that time, Glenn Darden was the department director and David Pennington served as a county mayor.
According to County Attorney Bob Huskey, Keeling was laid off because there was not enough work to justify keeping her position.
After a trial and an appeal by the county, an opinion was issued by the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirming the judgment of the trial court in the case of Melinda Keeling v. Coffee County. That means county taxpayers could now on the hook for more than $1 million in damages and attorney fees.
Huskey says he recommended the county file an application with the Tennessee Supreme Court in an effort to reverse the decision.
Now after this very long process, a special meeting of the Coffee County Commission will be on Monday, November 26, 2018, for the specific purpose of addressing and approving a settlement of pending litigation between Melinda Keeling and Coffee County. The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Commission Meeting Hall at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza, 1329 McArthur Street, Manchester.
Following the vote on the issue by the Commission, the meeting will close.
Following the closure of the first meeting, the County Clerk will immediately prepare the minutes of the meeting and upon the completion, a second Specially Called meeting of the Coffee County Commission will be called to order for the specific purpose of approving the minutes of the 6:00 p.m. meeting.
WMSR News will continue to update you on this story.
Tennesseeans Warned to Beware of Holiday Scams
According to AARP, one reason scammers prey on seniors is that they make twice as many purchases over the phone than other groups. (edemarco5/Twenty20)
Tennessee’s high ranking for fraud and financial abuse complaints to the Federal Trade Commission has motivated local groups to come together to help prevent scams. Kevin Walters, communications director at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, said it’s a real challenge.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They are cunning and they’re ruthless and, a lot of times, they’re anonymous,” Walters said. “And they can use technology to cloak phone numbers to hide their location.”
He said this year, cases of fraud and financial abuse are up more than 33 percent statewide.
Doing research on special offers and charitable groups is key, especially during the holiday season. Walters warned that scammers use these organizations as a cover to take advantage of a person’s good nature – and it’s okay to say “no” to giving your financial information to anyone over the phone.
“If someone’s contacting you to get that information and you’ve never spoken to them before, and they’re calling you out of the blue, again, that’s a red flag that they’re probably after more than just a donation to their charity,” he said. “They’re probably after much more than that, and it could lead to some real problems down the road for you and your family.”
In 2017, the FTC said Tennesseans filed more than 43,000 fraud reports, totaling losses of almost $14 million.
Walters added seniors and adults with disabilities are among the most vulnerable targets for scams. TDHS Adult Protective Services received more than 4,000 complaints of financial exploitation in the past year.
“So, the problem of fraud and identity theft is growing, across Tennessee and all segments of the population, in particular for elderly and vulnerable adults,” Walters said.
He said it’s important to report scams to local law enforcement, and get information from the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
Tullahoma’s Claire Mason nominated for Tennessee Board of Regents Excellence Award
Motlow sophomore Claire Mason, left, and Terri Bryson, vice president for external affairs and workforce innovation at Motlow, attended the Tennessee Leadership Training Institute in Franklin. Mason, from Tullahoma, is Motlow’s nominee for the Tennessee Board of Regents Statewide Outstanding Achievement & Recognition Student Excellence Award.
Mason attended the Tennessee Leadership Training Institute (TLTI) at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin this week. She will participate in the Middle Regional Competition at TCAT Nashville in February, where three regional finalists will be selected to attend the state competition in March.
Nominees must meet an extensive list of requirements, including recognizing TBR’s critical impact on Tennessee’s overall workforce readiness and economic future, having a strong work ethic, a dedicated sense of loyalty, and a healthy enthusiasm for promoting education throughout Tennessee. In addition, nominees must have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA, exhibit exceptional service at the institution and throughout the community, and exhibit outstanding academic accomplishment during enrollment.
Manchester Christmas Parade is Saturday
New parade route
To go along with the theme, the Manchester Recreation Center has partnered with the local Good Samaritan to have a city-wide food drive. The Manchester Rec Center will have drop off locations set up along the parade route to accept donations.
There is a new route this year for the parade and you can see the map at www.wmsrradio.com just click on this story.
The downtown Christmas Tree lighting will take place at 7:30 pm.