The Nashville Predators ended November the way they started it, scoring 5 in the Pepsi Center on the way to a 5-3 win over the Avalanche for their third road win of the year. Five different scorers for the Preds last night including a Gordie Howe Hat Trick for Austin Watson, and Watson was the story for Nashville last night.
Austin Watson has been playing the best NHL hockey of his career over the last few weeks, bringing grit, speed and skill to the lineup that this team has needed. After a back and forth 1st period, Watson dropped the gloves with Av’s pest Cody McLeod in the 2nd as McLeod attempted to get his team back on track after giving up two quick goals in the second to put the Preds up 3-1. Watson comported himself well and Colorado did not get the boost they were looking for. Watson had already assisted on Mike Fisher’s first goal… he completed the Gordie Howe by closing out the scoring on a nice tip in of a Roman Josi shot.
The other key to last night’s game was quick starts in both the second and third periods, scoring two quick goals at the start of each period, putting the Av’s back on their heels and effectively making them play catch up for large portions of the game and ultimately spelling their doom.
You have to admit… Pred Nation certainly breathed a sigh of relief seeing this team put up five goals without Ryan Ellis, James Neal or Colton Sissons. Seeing Kevin Fiala step up to score a nice top shelf goal on a rebound and Watson’s tip-in complimented Mike Fisher, Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen’s marker’s well for a nice combination of youth and veteran contribution.
Oh… and by the way, Pekka Rinne made 37 saves including quite a few timely ones on golden scoring chances for Colorado for his 10th win of the season bringing his GAA down to 2.03 and his Save % up to .934… both stats are top 5 in the league among goalies with at least ten starts.
So the team returned to Nashville last night, they have three days between between games for the first time since leaving for their west coast road trip in October. The Preds spend most of December inside the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena, playing nine of their next 14 on home ice. Time to make hay while the sun is shining!
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Random Notes
- Anthony Bitetto left last night’s game with an upper body injury, he has being placed on IR this morning.
- Miikka Salomaki has been sent to Milwaukee for a conditioning assignment.
- The club announced the signing of veteran NHL defenseman Adam Pardy today to a 2 way contract. Pardy has played in over 300 NHL games.
- SlapShot Radio is on Saturday this week…
- Three games in the NHL today, all times central – 7pm – PIT @ NYI. 7:30pm – TML @ CGY. 9:30pm – SJS @ LAK.
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