Craig Smith plays in his 500th NHL Game for Predators

NASHVILLE, TN –

When he wasn’t busy building his hockey skills, a 16-year-old Craig Smith spent one summer helping build something else in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.

With the 2006 school year over, Smith figured, at least initially, that most of his free time would be spent at the local ice rinks.

The thought of a part-time job hadn’t crossed his mind. That all changed, however, after a chat with his high school hockey coach.

“I was 16 at the time,” recalled Smith. “One of my old high school coaches, Chad Stauffacher, and his brother, Luke – their family owned a construction business – and they were putting up a hotel for the summer. They had asked if I had a job for the summer and I didn’t have anything going on, so I figured I could make some money doing that work.”

While it wasn’t the traditional summer job for a young teenager, Smith embraced the tasks he was given.

Predators: Why Craig Smith is best story of team’s season so far

NASHVILLE, TN – When they’re all gathered together in a small area, as they were at Tuesday’s practice at Centennial Sportsplex, the Nashville Predators are a frightening bunch.

Not like Halloween frightening or bar brawl frightening, but worth a shiver or two if you have any empathy for teams that must play them. And if you’re projecting what the Predators could become before this season’s over … scary. Good scary if you live in Nashville.

There was Filip Forsberg, who’s on his way to another level of NHL stardom, working a drill with Bobby Orr impersonator Viktor Arvidsson. There was P.K. Subban getting a shot past Pekka Rinne. There was recent addition Kyle Turris, showing no ill effects from a puck that smashed him in the cheek a day earlier.

Smith Scores 100th Goal, Preds Beat Blackhawks

CHICAGO, IL –

Craig Smith‘s 100th career goal proved to be the game-winner as the Nashville Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks by a 2-1 final on Friday night at the United Center.

The win is Nashville’s fifth of the season and gives them three out of a possible four points in Chicago this season.

After a first period that saw Nashville outshot 21-7 and allow a shorthanded goal to Chicago, Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith gave the Preds a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, a lead they never relinquished.

“Sometimes you’re going to have a period or shift or whatever that you’re not going to like, but it’s about making the adjustments, stepping up and making the big plays when the time is right,” Smith said. “I thought we did that, we executed well and a win’s a win.”