I have to admit… this is one of the stranger series I have seen. The home team has lost four of the six games so far as the Nashville Predators silenced the whiteout last night, winning 4-0 and sending the series back to Smashville for a game seven. The first home game seven in franchise history. But before we look ahead… let’s take a look at last night’s game.
BellMTS Place was lit from the puck drop, the Jets fanbase, starved for a winner was crazed, the Predators, starved for a bounce to go their way came out strong. It only took :62 seconds and a video review for Nashville to get that bounce. A simple little Roman Josi dump-in from the point deflects off the shaft of a falling Viktor Arvidsson’s stick and past Connor Hellebuyck that referee Wes McCauley immediately waived off as being played with a high stick…. But video review was conclusive and the call was overturned. 1-0 Predators.
The Predators brought the same kind of solid defensive game as they did in game four and it had the same frustrating impact on the Jets. Head coach Peter Laviolette not only put Scott Hartnell back in the lineup, he was also able to put Calle Jarnkrok back in after the Swedish Army Knife missed the last three games. The Predators finally looked like the Predators again, at least until Mike Fisher went down and did not return for the second period…or for the third for that matter, leaving the Preds with 11 forwards for two periods.
Oh… and Pekka Rinne was outstanding.
Rinne and the defensive play of the Preds continued to frustrate the hell out of the Jets and that frustration led to mistakes and those mistakes led to primo scoring chances that the Predators finally took advantage of as the JoFA line imposed its’ will on Winnipeg. The second goal, coming a little over eight minutes into the second period, had Filip Forsberg trying to replace a broken stick, got behind the defense and scored on an incredible power move to put the Preds up 2-0.
Winnipeg tried to push back, but the Predators defense wouldn’t bend. The teams went to the room with the Predators holding a two goal lead… and Pred Nation holding their collective breath.
Period three saw the Predators come out strong again, culminating in a simply insane goal from Filip Forsberg, a between the legs special that the hockey world is still marveling over to put the Predators up 3-0, Pekka Rinne continued to play the kind of game we are used to seeing from the big Finn, staying within the 4x6, playing within himself and frustrating the bejeebus out of the Jets.
An empty netter by Viktor Arvidsson was the cherry on the cake of a 4-0 win to tie things up in the series. The JoFA line was spectacular last night… Ryan Johansen with two assists, Arvy with two goal sand an assist, and Forsberg with two goals and an assist. Johansen is in beast mode and there was not contain this line last night.
This in a game where the Predators gave up four power play opportunities, had 16 giveaways and were dominated in the face off circle … and won 4-0.
Here’s the highlights…
Game seven is Thursday night at 7pm at Bridgestone Arena. As I write this… sixty long hours away.
------------------------------------
The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
Washington exorcises the demon and Game seven in Smashville…
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins – TBL wins 4-1
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – WSH wins 4-2
Western Conference
Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets – Series tied at 3 - Game six is Thursday night in NSH
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks – VGK wins 4-2 – Awaits winner of NSH/WPG
------------------------------------
Random Notes
- I still can’t believe that Forsberg goal…
- To move on to their second consecutive conference final, the Predators will have to do something neither team has been able to do in this series so far… win two in a row.
- The Predators announced the signing of Czech defenseman Filip Pyrochta to an entry level contract.
- Congratulations to the Washington Capitals on a huge win, they got the monkey… hell… they got King Kong off their back by finally taking down the Penguins.
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------------
SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.
We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. This week’s show will preview game seven, with our special guest co-host Brent Peterson and our special guest, from Hockey Night in Canada, Scott Oak.
We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results at a reasonable price. Just ask our sponsors… including day one sponsor
Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799, and TurfMasters… check out their great service at
TurfMasters.com.
We are also happy to welcome our latest sponsor… Patrick Brown’s Farmer Insurance Agency in Mt. Juliet… I switched to them a few years back and their service has been incredible! Give Pat and his team a call at 615-288-2086.
Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great preseason advertising deals available for our tenth season when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the
link.
If you are outside of the listening area, listen live online at
The Game website or check out the podcast about two hours after the show at
on SoundCloud.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
Join the Discussion:
»