I wasn't a big on video games as a kid, but I loved hockey in almost an unhealthy way.
I didn't play any of the NHL games growing up because we didn't have an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3, mainly because my sister and I were more interested in our Nintendo Wii.
Since that console entered our household in Christmas of 2007, we could not get enough of it. Three years later, Christmas 2010, the biggest ask on my list to Santa was a copy of EA NHL Slapshot.
It was the first EA NHL game released specifically for the Wii and had a plastic hockey stick you'd put the Wii remote and nunchuck into when you played. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was glued to this game.
It wasn't complex, which was the nice part. You just really picked what mode you wanted to play the game on, either PeeWee to Pro, Stanley Cup Final, Season or just play now. That's what I wanted out of the game, merely just to pick it up and play with no pressure.
The peak of my playing time came in middle school. I played occasionally in high school and would rediscover the game from time to time while home from college or visiting my family.
Having a little more free time recently, I asked my parents to bring the family Wii and the game to Nashville. In addition to re-experiencing the joy of the NHL Slapshot, I thought it would be fitting to play a season as the 2009-10 Nashville Predators.
To the best of my abilities, I'm going to try to detail the journey of this team from puck drop to a potential Stanley Cup Championship.
Disclaimer: I am not a God at this game. Even as a kid, I was still playing on the "pro" mode, which is still the third-highest setting. Now, I'm playing this season on the "All-Star" mode, which is the second-highest setting. I want to enjoy this experience too, so playing this game on "Superstar" would not be enjoyable at all. I'm also playing three-minute periods
Another disclaimer: I'm also going to try to record one game per story. The cord that connects the Wii to the TV is broken, so there's no color (for now). Again, I'm probably a little above average at this game, so please don't judge me. If you see jump cuts it means I was swearing and had to cut it out cause I doubt The Hockey News wants videos of me cussing at a 15 year old game.
Roster
*Numbers included are players EA rating
Shea Weber, D, 84
Jason Arnott, C, 84
JP Dumont, RW, 83
David Legwand, C, 82
Steve Sullivan, LW, 82
Ryan Suter, D, 82
Pekka Rinne, G, 82
Dan Ellis, G, 81
Dan Hamhuis, D, 81
Martin Erat, RW, 81
Patric Hornqvist, RW, 80
Denis Grebeshkov, D, 79
Joel Ward, RW, 78
Colin Wilson, C, 78
Jordan Tootoo, RW, 77
Cody Franson, D, 77
Marcel Goc, C, 77
Jerred Smithson, C, 76
Francis Bouillon, D, 76
Dustin Boyd, C, 76
Kevin Klein, D, 75
Nick Spaling, C, 74
Wade Belak, RW, 74
Gm. 1: Nashville 2, Dallas 1 OT
The season got off to a rocky start when I selected the wrong mode for my remote. I accidentally said I was playing with the "stick" when I wasn't, so every time I lifted the Wii remote, the game thought I was taking a slapshot.
It was a blessing in disguise as Dan Hamhuis scored off a slap shot from the point to give the Predators a 1-0 lead in the first.
Things didn't really heat up until the third period when Brendan Morrow put away a pass from Brad Richards to tie the game, 1-1, with less than a minute left in the third period. However, Dallas couldn't stay disciplined as Trevor Daley took a elbowing penalty with 27 seconds left.
Nashville couldn't get it done in regulation, but started overtime on the power play. Since the game thought every shot I took was a slapshot, the Predators couldn't convert.
However, a pass from Shea Weber allowed Patric Hornqvist to split the defenseman to put the puck past Marty Turco for the game-winning goal and a 2-1 season-opening victory.
Gm. 2: Nashville 4, Colorado 1
The offense opened up a bit for the Predators home opener.
A Steve Sullivan wrister put Nashville up 1-0 late in the first period. Marcel Goc scored off a Shea Weber pass in the second period to bump the lead to 2-0.
Colorado had a push back in the second period, and Peter Muller got ahead of the defense and beat Pekka Rinne to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
However, Nashville responded quickly. Jason Arnott had the puck poked away by an Avalanche defenseman, but he was able to get the puck back and score to give the Predators a two-goal lead back, 3-1.
Erat put the game on ice in the third period, walking across the slot and backhanding it into the net for a 4-1 lead. Arnott and Colin Wilson got the assists.
We could also be without defenseman Kevin Klein for a bit as he left this game injured.
Gm. 3: Nashville 3, Buffalo 1
The Predators get off to a slow start in the first period, but find their offense early on in the second.
After two glorious opportunities, one of which you can hear me yell my frustration, David Legwand catches a long pass from Denis Grebeshkov up the middle of the ice. Legwand creates some space at the top of the right circle and goes bar down for a 1-0 lead.
Nashville could've had a lead going into the locker room, but I checked out. With 0.7 seconds left, Derek Roy put in a rebound off a Thomas Vanek shot to tie the game. Jump cut in the video cause I swore.
The Predators got the lead back in the third as Shea Weber scored, with assists from Ryan Suter and Marcel Goc. In the final minute, inbetween the tops of the circles, Steve Sullivan scored and beat Ryan Miller on the crossbar to cement a 3-1 win.
Gm. 4: Nashville 4, Edmonton 2
This is where I'm realizing I may need to up the skill level, simulate games or give myself a stipulation.
A little over two minutes into the game, the Oilers strike first as Alex Hemsky pulls the defense to the left side of the ice, leaving Dustin Penner wide open for the goal and a 1-0 Edmonton lead.
Nashville responds with a breakaway goal from David Legwand off a pass from Dan Hamhuis on the left side. Before the period is over, Steve Sullivan backhands it in for Nashville's first lead of the night, 2-1.
The Predators kept their foot on the gas in the second period as Legwand scored his second goal of the night off a Hamhuis shot, 3-1. In the final two minutes of the period, Colin Wilson broke free and scored on a breakaway to bump the lead to 4-1.
Edmonton got one last lick in as Tom Gilbert scored on a breakaway due to one of the Predators players missing a check for a 4-2 final.