Take the point and move on… but wow… this 3-2 OT loss stings a bit. There are positives to pull from this one… and certainly give Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta major props for stealing one.
But sting it does. From the domination of the first 25 minutes of the game, where the Predators couldn’t buy a bounce, to going almost 14 minutes without a shot on goal, to wasting Ryan Ellis’ first goal of the season and Craig Smith’s 14th of the season. The two goals separated by just :17 seconds should’ve given the Predators enough momentum to take the game, but another undisciplined penalty bites the Predators in the butt as Austin Watson takes an interference penalty with a little less than 5 minutes to go and the Preds nursing a one goal lead.
You could’ve fallen asleep early last night, because you know the rest of the story… Coyotes tie the game on the ensuing power play… game goes to overtime… Preds drop it in OT by simply not showing up. Yup… I’ve seen that movie too…
The only twist was a double review of the game winner… first one for the net being off its’ moorings when the puck entered the net (which it was) and the second for goaltender interference (which it wasn’t) … both reviews were upheld and the Coyotes steal a 3-2 win, continuing the Preds futility in Glendale.
Postgame quotes from head coach Peter Laviolette indicated his extreme displeasure with the team’s overtime play and I like hearing the players say that they need to let this one burn a bit before moving on. It’s good advice.
Preds are back in action tomorrow night in Los Angeles.
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It’s that time of year again… it’s time for the
“Where We Stand” update… my tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most.
After last night’s play, the Predators stand third in the Central Division, one point behind Winnipeg (with one game in hand) and two points behind St. Louis (with three games in hand) … the Preds lead Dallas by three points (2 GIH) and Minnesota by five points (1 GIH.)
The Games in Hand are an excellent opportunity for extending some leads… but winning a couple games would help even more.
Impact games tonight (all time Central) – Buffalo @ Winnipeg, 7 pm
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Random Notes
- You have to love Juuse Saros performance last night… he saw sporadic action and very few shots in the first 30 minutes of the game and was on top of his game… that can be tough for a goalie…
- I am beginning to wonder if these schedule breaks that the Preds have had are helping or hurting this team. We will find out as the team has their “bye” week starting after Tuesday’s home game against the Oilers.
- Pointing up a tidbit that Zack brought up on SlapShot Radio Wednesday night, Filip Forsberg being out 4-6 weeks is bad, but the timing may have been the best possible. Inside that timeframe is the bye week and the All-Star break… which means that those 4-6 weeks will only cost him around 13 games instead of the 17 – 18 if the injury happened in late January.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen finished the World Juniors tournament with 1 goal and 5 assists for Team Finland. Tolvanen now returns to Jokerit in the KHL… I expect him to play on 1/7 against Metallurg.
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