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Too Little, Too Late: This Road Trip's Theme

January 27, 2010, 12:25 AM ET [ Comments]

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Well Pred fans, your panic train hasn't quite arrived at the station just yet, but it can be seen gaining steam in the distance. Tonight's 3-2 loss in Columbus was the fourth consecutive loss for the Nashville Predators, and offered up few signs of improvement. Rather than my normal post-game style, I'll just go with some bullet points to state my thoughts in a more brief fashion.

- Patric Hornqvist is THE story for the Preds this season. Just think where they would be without him. It would probably be more like 10th to 13th rather than in the 6th to 9th range. On top of that, Hornqvist with his 21st goal this season is making a run at the 30 goal range. That should make for an interesting RFA case should it not?

- Maybe that goal for Marty Erat will spark whatever he was pumping on earlier in the season. He was on an absolute tear before the injury, and considering the lack of production from Arnott, Dumont, Legwand, and Sullivan it becomes all the more critical for Erat to re-find that game.

- Did the goaltender rotation have a negative impact on Pekka Rinne's game? For quite some time the rotation worked quite well. Then came a start for Rinne against Toronto even though Dan Ellis pitched a shutout in Calgary the game before. Head Coach Barry Trotz broke his tradition (although the shutout rule is NOT in effect "this season") and the Toronto Maple Leafs promptly lit Rinne up in the 1st period of that rare Monday game. Since then, I think all Pred fans and other observers are wondering where the Rinne of before Toronto has gone to. I've heard Rinne state before that he likes to get in a rhythm. The rotation worked for a good while, but it looks like the time to move away from the rotation and keep Peks on a tear passes the Preds by a few weeks ago. That's the difficulty with a rotation at times. The approach did work and hindsight being what it is it may be unfair for me to criticize, but that's what the media is for right? Was Rinne solid against the Avs? Absolutely. Was he solid tonight? That's debatable. I would lean towards 2 of the 3 goals against being iffy/soft goals to give up. The final stats on the night for Peks show just 14 saves on 17 shots against. I might be taking it a little tough on Peks, but if he wants to keep #1 status and earn that big new contract, these are the times he (or Dan Ellis) must steal some points to keep their team afloat.

- 0-4 on the PP. Not a surprising stat in the least. Hey, they did manage 11 man advantage shots on goal. That's a plus, but until you put the puck in the net on a consistent basis, that extension still looks a bit pre-mature.

- Erat with 6 SOG and Hornqvist with 5. They are taking the offensive load on their shoulders. I give them all the credit in the world for that. Whether Arnott is "frustrated" about his offensive production or not he has to take a larger leadership role on the ice. 2 SOG will not cut it considering this is the guy you expected to lead your team in goal scoring. Also with 2 SOG was Sullivan and Legwand. With just 1 SOG is Dumont. I do believe the coaching staff has clued in to the lack of production from J.P. He had just 15:41 of TOI and was held to 3rd line duties mostly.

- Down 3-0 and the Predators finally wake up. Erat gets his tally (a really beautiful shot by the way) but again, it's the too little too late situation. That has been a theme in this losing streak. Quite frankly, it's been the 2010 theme. Slow starts and inability to capitalize on the solid starts the team does have is consistently costing the Preds points. Tonight was a prime example of pretty much dominating the 1st period, yet coming away tied at 0. How many times do I find myself at intermission in the Sommet Center telling people that the SOG stat looks great that previous period, but the lack of goals concerns me. Far too often.

- It is interesting to me how different the stats are in different barns. Tonight, the Preds get tabbed with just 2 giveaways…. the entire game. Wow. I guess they weren't counting the "hope" passes tonight. You know the ones. The puck is sent towards another Pred and the intent is they hope the puck gets to them since the puck was sent around the opposition. To some, it's a giveaway, to others, a missed pass. Either way, just a little surprised to see that stat.

- On the first two Columbus goals you'll never guess which pair of D-men were out there? What's that? You did guess? Well, then we must all be idiots for thinking the Hamhuis-Klein pairing isn't working because they continue to get shifts night in and night out. I don't know about you, but I think I'd truly rather see Franson-Klein together with Bouillon giving Hammer a few D lessons. On that note, I'm still waiting for a pre-Olympic trade for the pending UFA. The ceiling has been met for Hamhuis in Nashville and considering the talent he does possess, I think a change of scenery will benefit him. He'll likely get the power play time and top D-pair minutes he wants. Mr. Poile, I sure hope you are looking at getting a proven scorer in return. You need one, yesterday.

- Finally, you look at the scores from tonight's games. LA beats TOR 5-3, PHX beats DET in OT 5-4, and CHI continues to distance themselves with a 4-2 win over the lowly Oilers.The Predators are letting their grasp on the Western Conference playoffs slip away. 9th place is getting ever close now that Detroit has gotten healthy. They sit just 2 points behind the Preds and hold 8th place. Calgary is slumping for now and sit in 9th place 3 points behind Nashville. If they ever wake up, and the Preds continue to slumber, then the Pred fan panic train will be here by the Olympic break.

- With all of that said, how important does that make Friday night's game in Detroit? Well, for the first time this 09-10 season I'm calling it a MUST WIN for the Preds. It's past time for them to reassert themselves and there is no better motivator than the winged wheel. If they can't get up for a rivalry game and play a full 60 minutes of inspired hockey, then this season may be done. Even if they do lose in Detroit, as long as the Predators show a pulse and bring it every shift it would at least bring reasons for optimism of a turn around. They put forth another 2 period game and lose... well, at that point I would think the Pred fan panic train will fully arrive.



Till next time, take care.





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