The message was pretty simple, get back to Predator hockey. Terry Crisp repeatedly used one word in his pregame analysis, shoot. It appeared, for one night, the team listened. Rarely has Nashville outshot an opponent this season, that happened last night. Nashville held an opponent under 20 shots for the first time this season as Edmonton only mustered 18 shots on Anders Lindback. The Predators played team hockey instead of, as Barry Trotz said, “too much shinny” and they were rewarded with a 2-1 victory for their efforts, snapping a four game losing streak and putting the team in good position going into tonight’s game against Calgary.
The bad news coming out of last night is the injury to Blake Geoffrion. He took a fairly high hit from Ryan Jones and was knocked out of the game. Jones drew a five minute major for elbowing and I would not be surprised if the former Predator gets a call from Brendan Shanahan’s office. The press has gotten used to Barry Trotz soft peddling injuries in his postgame pressers, last night the Tennessean’s Josh Cooper had a surprising quote from him saying that Geoffrion would be out “for a while.”
Going into Calgary tonight, the Predators find a team in disarray and under pressure. The Flames are back after a four game roadie that only saw them pick up one win, a 5-2 decision over Minnesota on Sunday. Calgary is struggling on offense, their power play is not clicking and their penalty kill is only fair. This team has way too much talent for the level of performance seen during the first quarter of the season and their head coach is one often mentioned as on the hot seat. After yesterday’s coaching bloodbath in the NHL, the seat may have gotten a little hotter Brent Sutter. The Flames have five of their next seven at home, a key stretch that should determine if they have the same coach tonight as they will when Calgary visits Nashville two weeks from tonight.
A good win in Edmonton gives the Preds something to build from, a good win in Minnesota gives Calgary something to build from… should be a decent tilt tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Game time is 8:30pm, coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.
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Random Notes
- Jordin Tootoo continues his hot play, assisting on the game winner last night and frankly, driving Edmonton forward Ryan Jones into a silly major penalty that may end up costing Jones a suspension. Tootoo also drove the quote of the night from Oilers coach Tom Renney, “He pisses me off, but I’d like him on my team.”
- The Oilers looked a bit like the Predators last night, a few too many passes, trying to get a little too cute.
- Don’t forget that NCAA Division I hockey is back at Bridgestone Arena this weekend. The University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers take on the University of Nebraska – Omaha Mavericks. The Mavericks are ranked 21st by USCHO and 20th by InsideCollegeHockey.com. Game times are 7pm Friday night and 1pm Saturday afternoon. It will be my honor to do the PA for both games.
- Kudos to Anders Lindback last night for settling down after giving up a goal on the first shot, he performed well in only his second start of the season.
- The coaching changes that happened yesterday were interesting. I don’t think Bruce Boudreau will be on the sidelines for very long… unless he wants to be.
- The Predators organization lost Kirk Muller to the Hurricanes coaching change. Not surprising as Muller was up for a couple of jobs in the offseason. I wonder if Montreal is regretting their decision.
- The “Grim Reaper” watch continues for a few teams, you keep hearing Anaheim or Colorado as being next up to blow out a coach.
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