from the field, including going just 2 of 16 on 3-point attemp

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. Fake Soccer Jerseys . 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. Fake Soccer Jerseys For Sale . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. https://www.fakesoccerjerseys.com/ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Cyber Monday Soccer Jerseys . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Deonte Burton scored 21 points and Darrell Bowie keyed a second-half surge that carried No. 21 Iowa State to a 73-56 victory over Miami in the AdvoCare Invitational at Disney World on Friday.The Cyclones (5-0) advanced to Sundays championship game, bouncing back from a poor shooting performance in a tournament-opening win over Indiana State.Matt Thomas had 12 points and Nazareth Mitrou-Long added 10 for Iowa State, which will face either No. 11 Gonzaga or Florida for the title.Bowie hit an awkward layup as he tumbled to the floor and also hit a short jumper during a 17-2 run the Cyclones put together over an 8-minute stretch of the second half.JaQuan Newton led Miami with 21 points. Backcourt mate Davon Reed added 13 for the Hurricanes, who shot 36 percent from the field, including going just 2 of 16 on 3-point attempts.Burton hit a jumper, Donovan Jackson buried a 3-pointer and Monte Morris hit two free throws to finish the surge that broke the game open. Morris finishhed with six points -- well below his team-leading average of 19 for Iowa State -- but it didnt matter.ddddddddddddThe Cyclones built a 35-29 lead without getting any points out of their star, who finished 2 for 8 from the field.BIG PICTURECoaches use early season tournaments to prepare for conference play. Iowa State passed its first real test of the season, beating a team on the verge of cracking the Top 25 after shooting poorly in Thursdays opening round victory over Indiana State. Despite the loss, Miami figures to benefit from having faced Stanford and Iowa State before heading home for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.UP NEXTIowa State faces another tough challenge Sunday against Gonzaga or Florida.Miami plays the loser of the Gonzaga-Florida semifinal for third place on Sunday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '