SlapShot Radio is back tonight at 7pm CT with your complete review of last week’s action and we will get you ready for this weekend’s critical Central Division road trip. Our guests include the radio voices of the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche… Chris Kerber and Marc Moser. You are invited to join Pete Weber and I on 102.5 the Game in Nashville and the SlapShot Radio Network across the southeast.
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There’s an old Broadway standard that says “It’s not where you start, it’ where you finish” and last night at Bridgestone Arena was a case in point for that old chestnut. In the taking down the Avalanche in overtime by the score of 4-3 the Predators once again started out a little rocky, but finished where Pred Nation is used to seeing them at home… on the right end of a one-goal victory, driving their home record to an astounding, NHL best 19-2-1.
The All-Star break was not kind to either team’s play in the first period. Frankly, it was like watching paint dry for the first 20, no flow, no speed, no physicality… just two teams knocking off the rink rust. But that was only the first period.
The second period saw the real beginning of the game as Nashville came out firing, testing Semyon Varlamov repeatedly and beating the Av’s netminder with a nice play set up by Mike Ribeiro and Shea Weber as Roman Josi slammed it past the confused goalie to tie the game early in the period. Which led to the Tweet of the Night from the Nashville press corps…
You can always count on Jim Diamond to capture the spirit of the thing.
Nashville continued to step on the gas, unleashing a barrage of shots that would continue throughout the rest of the game, posting 29 shots on goal in the last two periods. Then, the revitalized power play struck as Colin Wilson found a rebound of a Seth Jones shot on his stick and he drilled it how for the Predators to take the lead. It was to be a short lived lead as Jarome Iginla continued his love of scoring against Nashville, depositing his 34th goal in 54 games played against the Predators… the most against the franchise by any one player. (Stick tap to David Boclair for that nugget) and the period finished tied at two.
But that didn’t last long… 32 seconds into the third period, Filip Forsberg showed why he is developing into a special player. The young Swede took a nice pass from Roman Josi and looked to beat Varlamov, delay for a beat, looking for an opening and snapping a shot on net that the Av’s goalie handled well and swatted to the corner… here’s where you see the amazing ice sense of Filip Forsberg… He did what every coach in hockey preaches… follow the shot. By doing that he found himself with the rebound just a step in front of the goal line. Forsberg instinctively put the puck back on net for a simply sick goal at a ridiculous angle to give the Predators the lead.
Nashville held it until the last minute when Colorado perfectly executed their empty net offense. Finding an open Nick Holden who tied it up with 36 seconds to go and sending the game into overtime. That was the third consecutive game where Colorado scored with their net empty to send a game to overtime and they had won the previous two. That was not to be on this night.
Halfway through the extra frame, Mike Ribeiro gathered in a rebound in the Preds zone and put a perfect tape-to-tape saucer pass to a flying Craig Smith right past center ice, Smith got behind the Av’s defense and went top shelf to win the game for Nashville and keep their home winning streak alive.
The Predators have a bit of a rest day, optional skate only, no practice before they travel to St. Louis. The team is in the midst of a four game in six day stretch and every chance to rest is critical.
Here are the highlights, from NHL.com
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I’d like you to know about the Peterson for Parkinson’s fundraiser happening on February 16th at the Franklin Theatre. It’s called “Songwriters and Storytellers” and will feature performances from some of Nashville’s premier songwriters. Writers of hits for artists like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean… just to name a few. For more information, including how to purchase tickets
Click here. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm… it should be an awesome show for a great cause.
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Random Notes
- The Carter Hutton scorecard so far since Pekka Rinne was injured… 2-1-1 with the team gathering 5 out of 8 possible points.
- Speaking of Rinne, he skated again yesterday and observers I spoke to indicate he is moving well. He is not slated to travel with the team when they leave for St. Louis today.
- Nasty hit on Jason Spezza last night in the Stars loss to the Canadiens. Alexi Emelin was assessed a five minute major for boarding and was ejected. It could be Emelin’s second encounter with the DPS.
- Pred fans may see an old friend Thursday night as former Predator Marcel Goc was traded from Pittsburgh to St. Louis yesterday.
- Speaking of Pittsburgh… are we sure a Philly fan didn’t do the cover of their game day program last night?
- Good luck to Marty Brodeur as the new Assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues.
- NHL schedule has three games on the schedule tonight; Maple Leafs @ Devils; Penguins @ Capitals; Blackhawks @ Kings.
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SlapShot Radio is back every Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network…. St. Louis Blues play-by-play man Chris Kerbner is joining us and much, much more. Our premier, day one sponsor is
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