I can’t wait to see Alexander Radulov play for the Preds, and he’ll be playing for them soon.

How good is he? I don’t know yet, but the odds are good that he’ll be outstanding even on the NHL level. He posted junior-level numbers near what Mario Lemieux did in the early 80s, and he was named this season’s first AHL player of the week–during his first-ever week in the league. I guess he earned it with seven points in three games.

It’s easy to fall into hyperbole with promising young players, but Alexander looks like the real deal.

I am very happy to hear that the Demonbreun Street bridge is officially re-opening to the public on Wednesday (Oct. 25). Eastbound connector roads into downtown Nashville are a funny thing, in my opinion. Broadway attracts major traffic and is by far the pipeline of choice for most commuters, from what I can tell. Church Street, which I consider far easier to navigate, generates significantly less traffic most weekdays, but that has changed somewhat now that it is a two-way street from First Avenue all the way to I-40. Charlotte probably ranks second to Church in terms of traffic, but even it is much easier to travel than Broadway most of the time (and certainly right now since Broadway is currently under construction).

I’ve found that it is easier to enter and exit downtown whenever you can avoid Broadway. I did not typically travel on Demonbreun every day prior to the bridge’s closure in July 2004, but I sure found it to be a handy shortcut when I needed it. It’s nice to know that another route will once again be available coming to and from downtown.

Battlestar Galactica is the first television series I’ve consistently followed in more than a decade. Several critics have called this series the “best show on television,” and I definitely agree with them. The storytelling is fantastic, and it has renewed my own interest in imagining engaging tales to tell. What I enjoy most is its realism in terms of character and plot development and its tendency to turn television cliches and conventions on their ears (for example, leaping forward in time an entire year in the second season finale and abandoning the working premise for the show, at least temporarily). Because I enjoy this show so much, I’m going to devote time each Friday before the latest episode airs to discussing the series. (For those looking to check it out, it airs at 8 p.m. central time on Fridays on the SciFi channel.)

I’m very curious to see tonight’s episode, Exodus: Part Two. The Galactica is preparing to stage a rescue operation that is huge in its scope (involving the rescue of tens of thousands of people controlled under Cylon occupation on the planet of New Caprica). My primary concern about this season’s opening scenario (most of humanity ruled by the enemy) has been how it will be resolved. I wonder how effective a rescue of this size can be in such a short period of time. Will this seem contrived and hokey? Will the whole scenario seem like a four-and-a-half episode pointless diversion if humanity escapes back to space again so quickly? (Granted, it’s only quickly in episode length: The Colonials have been on the planet for one year and a half, and they’ve been under Cylon control for more than four months.) My gut says yes to these questions, but previous experience with the show’s writers and producers leads me to think the answer is no. We’ll see.

What does all of this mean for Baltar, the much-maligned president, in name only, of the colonies? Will he be better off staying with the Cylons or begging for mercy and siding with humanity? I love this character and am eager to see how this unfolds.

Let’s hear it for the Preds! Going undefeated on multigame road trip is impressive, especially three games in the greater Big Apple area. Last night’s 4-3 shootout victory is the Preds’ fourth in a row, so they’ve gone from ice cold to red hot in one week’s time. Here’s the AP story on the Devils’ site, too.

It was nice to see Jason Arnott tally against his former team, as did Martin Erat, who again looked solid throughout. Erat also netted the lone goal for either team in the shootout. I am hoping that the end of the third period will teach the Preds that they can’t sit on any lead, no matter how much time is left. Coach Peterson is quoted in the Preds’ recap story, and he’s right: They definitely laid back over the last several minutes of the period. Surrendering a 3-1 margin in the final two minutes is ugly, but at least Nashville recovered and reclaimed the win in the shootout.