The Nashville Predators head into their “bye week” on a high note, scoring five unanswered goals in a critical divisional game to overcome a 0-3 hole and win 5-3 over the Dallas Stars. The team tool their fans on a heckuva roller coaster ride this past weekend, hitting a low point in a lifeless 7-4 loss to the Florida Panthers and a high point in the last 25 minutes of last night’s win.
The fireworks got going early in the game as Cody Eakin and Ryan Johansen dropped the gloves just :24 seconds into the game. Then, just :21 seconds later, another fight as Vern Fiddler and Radek Faksa danced and the wily vet won a solid bout over his former teammate. The play resulted in a full 2 minute 5-on-3 for the Stars as PK Subban and Austin Watson were whistled for roughing and cross checking respectively. The Predators did a nice job killing off the penalties and things settled down a bit… that wouldn’t last as the parade to the penalty box continued at the halfway point of the first period. Calle Jarnkrok fought Curtis McKenzie with McKenzie getting an extra two. James Neal effectively killed the opportunity with an ill-advised interference call :49 seconds later.
The resulting power play led to Dallas’ first goal… a couple more penalties, one to Ryan Ellis and one to Matt Irwin gave the Stars another 5-on-3 and this time they converted, giving Dallas a two goal lead… fourteen penalties for 46 minutes in the first period. But the odd thing was… the Predators were basically playing well… a little over-aggressive, but well.
The teams settled down a bit in the second, actually skating for over eight minutes without drawing a penalty, until Vern Fiddler put Dallas back on the power play with a tripping call, then Ryan Johansen got whistled for a hold on Patrick Eaves… :12 seconds later it was 3-0 and you started to get the feeling it wasn’t going to go the Preds way... again.
But 3 minutes later, Roma Josi potted his 8th of the year, 8 seconds later, Craig Smith draws a hold on a breakaway and is awarded a penalty shot… while he didn’t convert, the team fired off the opportunities and began to take the play to Dallas… and frankly, the Stars had that look… that look of “oh crap… here it comes.”
A late penalty in the second period put the Predators on the power play as the third began and Roman Josi got his second goal of the night just :45 seconds in to cut the lead to 3-2. The Predators continued to press their edge in momentum and Calle Jarnkrok converted on another sustained series in the offensive zone, tying the game and sending the sold out Bridgestone Arena crowd into a frenzy.
The game turned for good on what could’ve been a killer… a penalty on Viktor Arvidsson just :14 seconds after tying the game, putting Dallas back on the power play, where they already had three goals in the game. The Stars couldn’t get anything going due to Nashville’s relentless forecheck, and that aggressive play led to Filip Forsberg picking off a Dallas pass at the Nashville blueline and he was off to the races on an uncontested breakaway unleashing a nasty wrister from the high slot, beating Kari Lehtonen to put the Preds up 4-3.
And there was much rejoicing.
I think Pred Nation took its next breath with about 1:12 left in the game when Mike Fisher salted the game away with an empty netter, completing a five goal comeback win to send Pred Nation home with Big Macs and Frostys for the second straight game and sending the Predators off on their break with a win.
Let’s get to the good, the bad and the ugly from last night.
The Good - The resilience shown by this team and their ability to press the momentum will continue to be a key. When they are able to do it, they are lethal. Another Good, the full return of Roman Josi. The defense just seems to be finally gelling as the entire blueline has gotten healthy, Josi’s two goals and PK Subban’s two assists gave the defensive corps four points on the night.
The Bad - Inconsistency. It’s the only thing consistent about this team right now.
The Ugly - Holy cow… 20 penalties for 60 total penalty minutes. I like that Nashville didn’t take any of the crap that was being dished out, but they need to control it a little bit better… it was the message from Peter Laviolette in his postgame presser, but he was obviously pleased with the team’s effort and didn’t seem too upset about the penalties.
The weekend was a microcosm of the team’s play, it continues the up-and-down theme for February, play well in one, not so well in another, win one, lose one… it isn’t the recipe for long term success and the pattern has caused the team to surrender their 3rd place standing in the division, but they still remain in playoff position as the first wild card. The team is 3-3-0 so far in February with seven games remaining in the month, four of them at home.
Nashville is off until Friday, when they will reassemble and practice before flying to the Twin Cities to take on the Wild on Saturday before travelling to Columbus for a Sunday matchup with the Blue Jackets.
-------------------------------------
Random Notes
- Where We Stand – After yesterday’s play, the Nashville Predators have 62 points in 56 games played and are 4th in the Central Division. Nashville trails the division leading Minnesota Wild by 18 points (-1 GIH), 2nd place Chicago by 13 points with a game in hand and 3rd place St. Louis by a single point. Nashville has moved into the first wild card slot, Los Angeles has the second. Per sportsclubstats.com, the Predators playoff chances are at 76.1%.
- By the time the team gets back on the ice on Saturday, after their “bye week” the games in hand situation inside the division The Preds will hold a game in hand on Minnesota and Chicago, they will hold two games in hand over St. Louis. In the Wild Card race, they will have two games in hand over Calgary and Vancouver. Los Angeles (who is also on their bye week) will have a game in hand over Nashville.
- Looking at the standings, Barring a meltdown of epic proportions, the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks have the top two spots in the division on lock. The battle for third will be a pitched one between Nashville and St. Louis. It may be a tad too early to count out Dallas and Winnipeg, but their issue may be that both the Preds and Blues have games in hand over both teams, the Jets and Stars both trail Nashville by eight points and St. Louis by nine.
- Roman Josi’s two goals yesterday gives him four goals in his last three games… Calle Jarnkrok has 4 goals and five assists in his last nine games
- Cody McLeod was placed on IR yesterday and Harry Zolnierczyk was activated and drew in to last night’s lineup.
- PK Subban’s second assist last night was his 300th career NHL point.
- It was great to see Predators alumni like Tomas Vokoun and Greg Johnson at the Centennial exhibits this weekend.
- Yesterday’s Minnesota / Detroit game took a nasty turn when Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist high-sticked Wild blueliner Jared Spurtgeon. Nyquist got a double minor for the play, and an invitation to an in-person hearing with the DOPS, putting an extensive suspension on the table as a result.
- A special moment at Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa on Saturday as Craig Anderson returned to the team after a two month leave and promptly posted a shutout. The fans showered their goaltender with love and support as he returned from personal leave to be with his wife as she battles throat cancer.
- Two games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6:30pm – NYR @ CBJ. 8pm – ARI @ CGY.
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
SSR’s season nine is on, our next show is Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south and Pete Weber and I bring you the best in hockey talk all season long. Predators broadcaster Brent Peterson joins us as co-host…
SlapShot Radio has been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results. Our premier sponsors include 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.
Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great advertising deals available 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.
-------------------------------------
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 per month thereafter. For more information,
click here.
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
Join the Discussion:
»