Well my friends, today instead of a video we go back to the "olde world" blog for the game day. Being a back-to-back and no trip to the rink today, plus no one to talk to from the Dallas side (they do morning skate at the team's practice facility) just left me thinking – why not blog?

So here it is for you. Last night the Predators capped a thrilling come-from-behind victory with just over eight seconds to go when Ryan Suter sent Marty Erat in on goal for the game winner to touch off a euphoric celebration at Bridgestone Arena. In talking with Barry Trotz today, he said he could sense that the game wasn't over after the first period, and that things had come "too easily" for Columbus. Trotz said he has seen and been a part of games over the years where the team that fires out to that giant first period lead takes its foot off the gas, and sure enough, that's what Columbus did. Suddenly the Blue Jackets were back on its heels, trying to hold on to a lead that was slipping away. Indeed it wasn't an easy game to win, but it did cause the coach to muse that perhaps this year's edition of the Predators could indeed be "very special". I hope he's right!

Dallas ran into the Flyers buzzsaw on Wednesday, handed a 4-1 defeat in which the Stars never really got much going. They did get Adam Burish back after missing 15 games with a broken hand, but by his own admission it "felt like the first game of the season" again. One of the interesting story lines for the Stars is that goaltender Richard Bachman, if he starts tonight, will go for the seventh straight time. Not bad for a rookie who won his first three pro starts, making him the only goalie in Minnesota/Dallas history to do so. Kari Lehtonen is slated to return from a groin injury relatively soon, perhaps as near as New Year's, but he'll be on the shelf tonight.

Finally, a neat little nugget on Dallas: 16 of the club's 31 third period goals have come in the last half of the period. Of those 16, 10 have either tied the game or gone for the game winner. And when the Stars score in the latter half of the final frame, they're 11-2-1. Yikes!

To all of you and your families I wish you the safest and happiest holidays possible. Please remember not to drink and drive!