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Playoff Shots and the Game 4 GBU

May 19, 2017, 12:19 PM ET [39 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Playoff Shots from last night at Bridgestone Arena

Courtesy DM/SlapShot Radio

Themes that have haunted this Predators team all season long reared their ugly heads again at Bridgestone Arena last night in Nashville’s 3-2 overtime loss in Game Four of the Western Conference Final. The series now heads back to Anaheim tied at 2 games apiece with Game Five looming at 6:15pm tomorrow night at Honda Center.

Themes like slow starts… I can’t think of how many times I have written about slow starts this season, most of them were covered by an outstanding second period, that wasn’t the case last night. Nashville came out flatter than a pancake, outshot 14-2 in the first and were lucky to only be down by one. The second saw the the Predators try to turn the tide and get back to their speed game, but another ski ramp goal off Roman Josi’s stick put the Ducks up two and temporarily quieted the oversold crowd of 17,423 in Smashville… and that didn’t count the few thousand watching the game in Hall of Fame park adjacent to the arena.

The third period started, the Preds got back to work and began to come at the Ducks with speed, continued to attack in waves and the Ducks quickly tired. This is the lesson that Nashville needs to drive into their heads… Anaheim simply cannot handle their speed game and when they establish any kind of extended zone time the Ducks get tired and commit penalties. Perry for slashing, Kase for tripping, and then P.K. Subban rips a slapper from the point that found the back of the net.

Bridgestone Arena exploded and it may have been the last time Pred Nation sat down for the evening. Then Bieksa takes a hi-sticking penalty, Manson takes a slashing penalty… Anaheim killed the penalties but again… it sapped much needed energy from the Ducks

At that point, you weren’t sure if the Predators were going to complete the comeback, but with Pekka Rinne pulled for the extra attacker and a dogpile in front of the net, Filip Forsberg managed to tie it up with :35 seconds left, sending Pred Nation into ecstasy… there wasn’t a person at Bridgestone Arena that thought the Ducks could recover from that body blow… well, except for about 35 or so Anaheim personnel.

Nashville came out strong, continuing to press the play but Anaheim didn’t get the memo that the game was essentially over… and another theme came back... overtime... the Ducks managed to wrest some momentum by taking a page from the Predators book… their work paid off with a lucky bounce. Another Ducks goal off a Predators defenseman’s stick… this time off Subban…

Bad bounces happen… and this one tied the series. Let’s get to the GBU…

The Good - The comeback… it showed the heart of this team.

The Bad - The Ducks steamrolled the Predators in the first period and the answer too way to long to take hold.

The Ugly - The start… stuff happens, but coming out flat like the team did… I am not sure if putting this behind them will be so easy and there may be some pretty serious soul searching on the way out to Anaheim.

Take heart Pred Nation, this team always bounces back well from a playoff loss… game five is tomorrow at 6:15 CT.

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Conference Final Reset/b>

Eastern Conference

PIT vs. OTT – OTT leads 2-1 – Game four is tonight in Ottawa.

Western Conference

ANA vs. NSH – Series tied 2-2 – Game five is tomorrow night in Anaheim.

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Playoff Random Notes

- Once again, Pred Nation brought it hard.

- Pekka Rinne was once again outstanding and was the only reason Nashville was within shouting distance when the third period began.

- Nashville’s home win streak ends at 10… time to start another one on Monday.

- Last night was the first game of this series where the team who scored first won the game.

- Everyone is wondering about the status of Mike Fisher… first clue will be if he travels to Anaheim.

- One game in the NHL tonight – 7pm – PIT @ OTT (NBCSN)

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