Before I get started with previewing tonight’s game, I just have to say… Wow! The whining and carping from the media about the lack of suspension for Shea Weber is borderline silly. No one is saying that the play was legal, no one is saying “way to go Shea… keep doing that.” The message being sent by Brendan Shanahan is simply this… the play wasn’t worth suspending for 12 games, which is the equivalent number of games in the regular season game that most of these whining pundits are calling for. A single game in the playoffs equals 12 in the regular season (according to Brendan Shanahan's math.) Weber was fined the maximum amount without a suspension… blame the CBA if it isn’t enough to satisfy.
I really think it is funny that the same pundits screaming for Shea Weber’s head are completely silent about the incendiary event of all of this… Henrik Zetterberg’s boarding of Weber with two seconds to go, apparently that was a perfectly legal play. No one is saying a thing about Todd Bertuzzi throwing multiple haymakers from outside the scrum, a clear third man in violation… oh no… according to these same guys Bertuzzi is a saint that has never done anything wrong in his life. The high and mighty hockey media has declared the credibility of the NHL destroyed by this one decision. Hyperbole much? /rant off (commence the flaming…)
Can we finally move on now? We do have game two to play tonight.
It is a special 6:30pm start time for tonight’s second tilt of the Predators and Red Wings. The Predators took game one in a game that was completely counter to the conventional wisdom heading into the series. Nashville won on their five-on-five play, not their power play. Special teams went decidedly in the favor of Detroit as they scored both their goals on the power play.
So what adjustments get made tonight?
For Detroit, they have to get better traffic in front of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. You have heard the words “net presence” mentioned a lot over the past 36 hours. The Red Wings will want better five-on-five play, they were outscored 3-0 by the Predators at even strength in game one. Detroit will also have to adjust to not having Darren Helm in the lineup, a big loss for this team that was evident in game one. Rookie Gustav Nyquist will take Helm’s lineup spot, making his first NHL playoff appearance.
For Nashville, discipline is the watch word. While the officials in game one were extremely whistle happy, the Predators did not display the discipline they are known for. Nashville also needs to improve they special teams, going 0-6 on the power play and giving up two power play goals on the penalty kill is very un-Predator like. The other adjustment the Preds need to make is to control the puck possession battle better. Pekka Rinne was a difference maker on Wednesday night and covered the fact that Detroit badly outshot the Predators in the second and third periods.
The injury situation is clear for the Red Wings, it is a little muddier for the Predators. A key cog in the Preds penalty kill, Hal Gill is still listed as day-to-day. Everyone else is ready to go.
Special game time tonight, 6:30pm. I will be hosting a plaza party (presented by AT&T) beginning at 3:30pm. That party features games, food, drink and fun... The game is a sell out, but last minute tickets may get released today so keep an eye on Predator’s social media. All fans will get a gold t-shirt for the playoff “gold-out.” National coverage is on CNBC, the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and Terry Crisp will have the call on SportsSouth, Tom Callahan and Stu Grimson will be behind the mic on the Predators Radio Network flagship, 102.5 the Game. Pre game with Willy Daunic and the broadcast crew starts at 5:30.
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Playoff Look
East
NYR vs. OTT – Rangers lead 1-0 – Next game is Saturday
BOS vs. WSH – Bruins lead 1-0 – Next game is Saturday
FLA vs. NJD – Series begins tonight
PIT vs. PHI – Flyers lead 1-0 – Next Game is tonight
West
VAN vs. LAK – Kings lead 1-0 – Next game is tonight
STL vs. SJS – Sharks lead 1-0 – Next game is Saturday
PHX vs. CHI – Coyotes lead 1-0 – Next game is Saturday
NSH vs. DET – Predators lead 1-0 – Next game is tonight
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Random Notes…
- Some concern on how to get Alexander Radulov going, as Josh Cooper points out in his Tennessean blog, A-Rad hasn’t scored since March 31st.
- There appears to be 17 former Preds playing on other playoff teams this season. Florida has four (Santorelli, Goc, Smithson and Upshall,) St. Louis, Washington, Boston and Philly have two each and Vancouver, Chicago, New Jersey, San Jose and Pittsburgh each have one.
Stick Tap to my Starbucks bud Wayne for that info
- I will say, one good idea came out of the media coverage on the Weber situation. Bob Wojnowski in the Detroit News suggested a solution for incidents that happen at the end of playoff games.
My solution: If unwilling to suspend a player, the league should have the discretion to carry over a 10-minute misconduct penalty to the next game, as long as it's the same series. At least that would make head-bangers consider the consequences in the closing seconds.
I really like that suggestion, recognize the series exists. Now you have something between a fine and a suspension that may alliviate the all or nothing choice... and it would fit this particular situation perfectly.
- Overtime was the name of the game last night… three of the four games had bonus hockey.
- Last night’s San Jose/St. Louis game one really reminded me of the double overtime game one loss the Predators took at the hands of the Sharks in the ’07 WCQF. Noted Pred-killer Martin Havlat had two, including the game winner.
- You have to appreciate the Phoenix Coyotes resiliency. They came out rather flat in the first period but recovered nicely to take game one in OT.
- You have to hand it to rookie goaltender Braden Holtby. The kid stood tall in the net last net, stymieing Boston for 61 minutes. As noted on NHL Tonight, I also liked how the Caps reacted to lift the kid up after giving up the game winner, especially the captain, Alexander Ovechkin.
- After a rather tight first 33 minutes, the New York Rangers exploded for three goals in about five minutes to take game one of their series with Ottawa. Think coaching doesn’t make a difference? John Tortorella’s basketball-style timeout midway through the second period really stopped the Senator’s momentum and was the turning point in the game.
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We will be having a watch party at Blue Restaurant in Murfreesboro on Sunday getting going at about 10:30am for an 11am faceoff… We had a great crowd and an awesome time last February so we are doing it again! The watch party benefits the Predators Foundation, with door prizes and a portion of Blue’s take during the watch party being donated.
We'll be back on Wednesday 4/18 with our next episode on 102.5 the Game.
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