If you were looking for signs of resilience from the Nashville Predators… you’re getting them. That hallmark of this franchise has been hard to find this season, but seems to have finally gotten back home as the Predators showed in their last three games. It is no surprise that all three of them are wins. The latest was yesterday’s come from behind 3-2 win over Colorado. The come from behind was one thing, the come from behind after travelling the morning of the game because of plane trouble and getting to the rink a mere two hours before game time? That is something else.
The team arriving in Denver just hours before game time had another complication, it delayed the Predator’s newest player, Cody McLeod, in meeting the team and getting an idea of what his role was with Nashville. I don’t want to set up high expectations here, but this player had no practice with this team at all and made a difference, an immediate impact for his new team… a fight with Jarome Iginla, then driving the net and scoring his first in Predator Gold to halve the Av’s two goal lead and start the comeback. And what a comeback it was! The Predators came back to win when trailing after two periods for only the third time in 15 games this season and for the third straight game, they had to show guts and grit to get it done.
The injury report would be 4/5ths of a top two unit for almost any team in the NHL with Roman Josi, PK Subban, Colin Wilson and Mikka Salomaki on it, the return of James Neal definitely mitigated Wilson’s absence. You have to give full marks to this team, they have indeed seemed to turn a corner. Can they keep it turned is now the next question.
So after Cody McLeod got the ball rolling, the captain kept it rolling. Mike Fisher tied the game five minutes into the third, depositing a very nice feed from Austin Watson, who continues to post points, yesterday being the fourth consecutive game where Watson hit the scoresheet. Then, a few minutes after being stoned on a glorious scoring opportunity, Filip Forsberg struck, taking Ryan Johansen’s faceoff win and unleashing a filthy wrister to give his team the lead in the game… and it was a goal that would become the game winner.
Take a look at Filthy Fil’s goal…
Forsberg is getting hot at the exact right time, scoring 8 in his last 13 games.
So, the team travels to Vancouver today for a Tuesday night showdown with the Canucks, who still remember last week’s shortie they game up with two seconds remaining in overtime to lose a heartbreaker… they will be out for a little payback.
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Yesterday’s SlapShot Radio… in case you missed it… thanks to Steve Wrigley for sitting in.
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Random Notes
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Where We Stand – After last night’s play, the Nashville Predators have 47 points in 43 games played and stand 4th in the Central Division, trailing, 3rd place St. Louis by two points. Nashville is one point out of a Wild Card spot. The Predators are two points behind with three games in hand over the first wild card team Calgary and are one point behind the 2nd Wild Card team, Los Angeles.
- Derek Grant was back in the lineup last night and got his first point in Pred colors, posting the secondary assist on McLeod’s goal.
- Pekka Rinne was strong again last night, stopping 28 of 30, including a number of high quality chances. The extra rest he is able to get with the outstanding play of Juuse Saros is showing. Rinne’s Save % is creeping back up, it now stands at .920
- Mike Fisher’s next assist will be the 300th of his career.
- Peter Laviolette is three wins shy of 500 in his NHL career.
- Four games in the NHL today, all times CST – Noone – PHI @ WSH. 6pm – NJD @ VAN, MIN @ CHI. 7pm – STL @ ANA.
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