(Photo by: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators started the post-Martin Erat era with a 3-1 loss to Central Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets. This win snapped allowed Columbus to record their first regulation win at Bridgestone Arena since 2006.

On post-Trade Deadline day, the Nashville Predators have elected to call up defenseman Ryan Ellis and forward Chris Mueller from Milwaukee prior to puck drop against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the press release, the Predators made it known that this move was "under emergency conditions".

Mueller was on four flights between Milwaukee and Nashville yesterday. Tough for a player trying to earn a spot on the NHL squad to go through all that mental and physical stress, but Mueller will have to battle through that.

Ellis hasn't played with the Preds since March 21 against the Calgary Flames. This season, the 22 year old has participated on 31 games, but was squeezed out of the lineup due to the return of Hal Gill and the solid play from Jonathon Blum and Victor Bartley.

Mueller will most likely be in the lineup to help in the faceoff dot, but Ellis will probably be a healthy scratch. Puck drops at 7:00pm CT.

The Nashville Predators take on a revamped Columbus Blue Jackets club for the final time at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville has a record 15-14-8 with 38 points and ranked 9th in the Western Conference. Columbus is ranked 11th in the Western Conference with 37 points and a record of 15-14-7. Puck drops at 7:07pm CT/8:07pm ET.

(Photo by: Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

Young goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has found a comfortable place to play hockey without an extremely hostile environment pouring the pressure on to make the playoffs. Before coming to Columbus, Bobrovsky was a wash up out of Philadelphia. There were low expectations for him, and also the entire Blue Jackets' organization. However, that appears to be the reason for their success.

After a couple hours of waiting on pins and needles for an announcement, the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals completed a trade before clock struck 2:00pm CT. Martin Erat and Michael Latta have been traded to the Capitals in exchange for Filip Forsberg. “It felt good today," said Nashville general manager David Poile, "and I know it will feel good in the future.”

"I didn't like it. But I dealt with it. And now we have a tremendous prospect."

(Photo by: Dinur Blum/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators have traded defenseman Scott Hannan to the San Jose Sharks for a conditional 6th/7th round pick. The return becomes a 6th rounder if the Sharks make the playoffs and Hannan dresses. Hannan will return to the team where he started his career with and played for from the 1998-99 season through 2006-07.

(Photo by: Gopher Sports)

Zach Budish signed a two year, two way deal with the Nashville Predators Wednesday worth $575,000 average, according to Renud Lavoie of RDS on Twitter.

This past season, Budish played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was captain of the squad. In his fourth year on the collegiate team, he played in 40 games posting 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists).

The Gophers' captain was drafted by the Predators prior to his freshman year 41st overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft held in Moontreal, Quebec. 

Budish has good size at 6'3", 223 lbs and will have to use it to his advantage at the professional level. Size like that comes every once in a while. 

Chris Mueller is now like ping-pong ball, moving back-and-forth between the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals. Hopefully he is gaining frequent flyer miles. Prior to the trade deadline, the Predators reassigned Mueller to the Milwaukee Admirals.

Yesterday, Mueller woke up in Milwaukee, but found himself playing the Colorado Avalanche later that night in the Music City.

This move is coming probably because center Mike Fisher is probable to return Thursday, but it could also mean the Preds are making space for an addition to the roster. Press release below...

Bridgestone Arena is going insane. There is a TV timeout standing ovation occurring and Fox Sports Tennessee is trying to get as much video of the fans cheering on their team while they can.

They pan to this dopy looking fan, between the ages of 17 to 21, with a hat too big for his head wearing a #15 Craig Smith jersey. Instead of getting a fan cheering on the players wearing the gold jerseys on the ice, they get a fan digging for gold...and eating it.

Just watch...

To top it all off, he does a stupid arm flail to cover for his gold digging being caught on camera.

We will find you, you over aged booger eater. We will find you...

(Photo by: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

In a physical and sometimes boring game, the Nashville Predators were able to get a must-needed victory over the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. “It was a real good effort from us, especially three games in four nights,” said head coach Barry Trotz.

The Predators did not play a full sixty minutes, but luckily they weren’t victimized from the worst in the West. “It was a huge two points,” said Pekka Rinne. “We’re heading in the right direction at the right time.

This win brings hope and life towards making the playoffs. They now sit tied for eighth place with the St. Louis Blues, but St. Louis has three games in hand. Nashville has a tough Central Division schedule coming up and this is just a warm up for what is going to happen in the next few games.