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Stolen Points

November 24, 2009, 8:15 AM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Pred Nation is pinching itself this morning after witnessing a perfect homestand. Five games, ten points with critical divisional wins over Columbus and Detroit, and most importantly, the final piece of the Predators puzzle clicking into place. Nashville is finally fully healthy and happy about it, as evidenced from the cheer that went up when no names were announced on the injured list last night. The Predators have solved some power play issues, are shooting the puck with regularity and authority and are playing solid defense.

The last piece?

A win stolen by a goaltender. That happened last night as Pekka Rinne survived a third period shooting gallery to help ice a 3-1 win, the Predators’ fifth win in their last seven games against the Wings.

Don’t get me wrong, Pekka Rinne has been very good over this six game win streak, however, last night he stole one from a determined Red Wing team that poured on the pressure in the third period. Rinne was simply marvelous, stoning scoring chance after scoring chance as Detroit dominated the play for the majority of the period. Detroit may have deserved a little better, but Rinne was determined not to allow it.

After a busy Monday night in the NHL, the Predators find themselves second in the division, 7th in the conference, and light years away from the horrendous start to this season. The Predators fly to Denver today for their Thanksgiving Eve tilt with the Avalanche.

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Check out the HockeyBuzz Radio website here. Great new pictures posted from last night's game.

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The Predators’ power play, at one point only converting at a 3.7% rate, is now humming along, converting 33% over their past five games. Power play goals are critical to this team as John Glennon notes today in his Tennessean piece, the team is 11-0-0 when they score a power play goal.

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Saturday night it was David Legwand with a breakout game on offense… last night it was Martin Erat with a two goal performance. Nice to see these two get it going. Legwand did an outstanding job on Pavel Datsyuk last night, limiting the sniper to a single shot, Erat showed some grit and some touch.

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The Sommet Center has not been kind to the Red Wings as of late as the team has lost three of their last four and four of their last six inside the former “Joe - South.”

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The Predators have an odd schedule quirk this year on this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. Three home games in four nights. Friday, the team wears the new third jersey for the first time against the Blues, then a Saturday game against Florida and then Monday versus Calgary. Best as I can tell, it is only the second back-to-back home series in the franchise's history.

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COMING UP ON HOCKEYBUZZ RADIO…

For the most updated guest information go to HockeyBuzz Radio's website

Wednesday – November 25th - Pete will be prepping for the Colorado game so we have a guest co-host... Jim Diamond of The Nashville Examiner! We’ll take a look at the NHL at the Quarter Pole with national bloggers Paul Kukla from nhl.com and Kukla’s Korner, Greg Wyshynsky from Yahoo’s Puck Daddy and Eklund is slated to join us for a rumor update. That’s all at 6pm Wednesday on SportsRadio 560 WNSR. … listen online or on podcast at HockeyBuzz Radio's website.


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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates… I’ll also be updating during Pred home games in season with information and explanations from the PA box.





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