Penalties (and capitalizing on them) were the difference in game 1. Blues only had 1 PP and they didn't convert. Nashville had a few, a couple on bad penalties (looking at you Perron). Blues PK struggled in round 1 too, they need to be more disciplined.

5 v 5 play I though the Blues held the edge. The Predators were dominant in the second when they had a couple PP's and the flow of the game was disrupted. Hoping to see more games like this.
- Jackman

5 on 5 the blues had the edge?? Seriously how do you come up with that? Did you not see the shots? Preds 32 to blues 30. Hits Preds 34 blues 36 Face off percentage Preds 62.3% vs 37.7% Not sure how they had an edge.. in the third maybe.
Shots during periods
1 Preds 11 Blues 11
2nd Preds 15 blues 8
3rd Preds 6 Blues 11

I dont see an "edge" by the blues......

The hit on Fiala wasn't dirty. It was a tough, hard hockey play that gets made every night. Sure, it's a terrible break for Fiala and Preds. He has been playing great hockey and making a huge impact for the team. But, it wasn't dirty at all, even if I didn't like it as a Preds fan.

This was sort of what I expected for this series. Each team controlled the play for 5-10 minute stretches. When the Preds played their game, they were hard to stop offensively, and St. Louis couldn't get much going. But St. Louis is a tough, gritty team that has plenty of skill. Settle in for several more games of back and forth hockey like this.

I thought the Preds showed a lot of grit, hanging in there shorthanded for 2/3 of the game with one of their offensive spark plugs missing (get well soon Fiala). The 4th line was terrible in stretches & that's where you feel the loss of Craig Smith & Calle Jarnkrok the most. If those two can get back in the lineup, it shifts everything around & you can still ice a bruiser like McLeod to try and keep Reaves sort of in check, without totally sacrificing a full shift of offensive zone time to the other team every time the 4th line is on the ice.

Preds were strong on the dot. Subban played well. But the Blues are getting some of their key guys going as well. Hang on boys & girls. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
- holycow_75

Ok.. a comedian.. ?
- pred_26

Yeah.

Must wins and statement games. It's funny talking about game 1 and 2 of a 7 game series like that.

5 on 5 the blues had the edge?? Seriously how do you come up with that? Did you not see the shots? Preds 32 to blues 30. Hits Preds 34 blues 36 Face off percentage Preds 62.3% vs 37.7% Not sure how they had an edge.. in the third maybe.
Shots during periods
1 Preds 11 Blues 11
2nd Preds 15 blues 8
3rd Preds 6 Blues 11

I dont see an "edge" by the blues......
- pred_26

Do you know what 5 on 5 means?

Serious question.

Do you know what 5 on 5 means?

Serious question.
- carcus

5-on-5 CF% favored StL 64.4% to 35.6%.

Nashville had 18 blocks to StL 3 during 5-on-5.

I'd be interested to see the 3rd period breakout for 5-on-5 CF%.

How is the first game not a statement game? Perhaps the statement is, this is going to be a back & forth, tough series. That's what I took away from last night. Some Preds fans might look at last night & say the Preds played without 2 of their top-6 forwards last night, and lost another for 2/3 of the game, and still beat St. Louis who is basically at full strength. Just depends on how you look at it I guess.

In the past 5 years, 70% of the teams winning Game 1 in any round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs go on to win the series. That is far from a lock - especially when the teams are evenly matched. But winning game one is statistically significant. Even if the games all count the same, as Captain Obvious from Carolina so astutely pointed out.

Fiala has a broken femur. so he is done. If Smith and Jarnkrok get back in the lineup, it filters down and strengthens every line 2-4. I like the Preds' chances if they get back. If not, anything could happen.
- holycow_75

With all due respect it sure seemed like the rest of the second the Preds were anything but short handed.

If say the refs called the game with the same level then Nashville should have been short handed numerous times in the third, like not long before when that guy interfered with Steen.

This was a great game and the only shocking thing is how no one sees it coming.

This is going to be a great series and even as a Blues fan I won't be upset by whoever wins.

5 on 5 the blues had the edge?? Seriously how do you come up with that? Did you not see the shots? Preds 32 to blues 30. Hits Preds 34 blues 36 Face off percentage Preds 62.3% vs 37.7% Not sure how they had an edge.. in the third maybe.
Shots during periods
1 Preds 11 Blues 11
2nd Preds 15 blues 8
3rd Preds 6 Blues 11

I dont see an "edge" by the blues......
- pred_26

Yes, 5 v 5 I think the Blues had the edge. You're citing a lot of information that includes the Preds power plays.

Blues got dominated in face-offs yet again and it hurts them, several of those were on the power play as well. Steen/Sobotka lost 4 in a row on either the 4 or 5 on 3. Even strength face-offs were 29-23 Preds, Blues clearly need to be better there and it was part of the problem vs the Wild too.

No it isn't.
- bcallaway

It is when you win it on the road.

5 on 5 the blues had the edge?? Seriously how do you come up with that? Did you not see the shots? Preds 32 to blues 30. Hits Preds 34 blues 36 Face off percentage Preds 62.3% vs 37.7% Not sure how they had an edge.. in the third maybe.
Shots during periods
1 Preds 11 Blues 11
2nd Preds 15 blues 8
3rd Preds 6 Blues 11

I dont see an "edge" by the blues......
- pred_26

Think analysts said at one point mid way thru 3rd half Preds shots were on the PP.

Think analysts said at one point mid way thru 3rd half Preds shots were on the PP.
- Gerk

Nashville
5 on 5 shots - 19 (edit: 1 shot was 4 on 4)
Power Play shots - 13
32 total shots

St Louis
5 on 5 shots - 29
Power Play shots - 1
30 total shots

Nashville shots through 2 periods was 13 & 13. (PP & 5on5) 6 5on5 shots in the 3rd.

Just want to wish best of luck and a speedy recovery to Mr. Fiala. Never want to see anyone get hurt like that. Hoping the best for his future.

Just want to wish best of luck and a speedy recovery to Mr. Fiala. Never want to see anyone get hurt like that. Hoping the best for his future.
- Hull16

Do you know what 5 on 5 means?

Serious question.
- carcus

Yes I am quite aware.. are you trying to be a jerk?

Just want to wish best of luck and a speedy recovery to Mr. Fiala. Never want to see anyone get hurt like that. Hoping the best for his future.
- Hull16

I want to echo this as well. I hope it came through on tv how concerned the fans in St. Louis were and the ovations he got both as they first got the stretcher up and then when he was actually coming off the ice.

I'll also add that what I have heard surrounding him (from people not associated with the Predators but who would know) was that the surgery went well.

Yes I am quite aware.. are you trying to be a jerk?
- pred_26

No.

You gave the stats for the entire game. Preds got a ton of shots/pressure when on the PP. So it was an honest question.

I want to echo this as well. I hope it came through on tv how concerned the fans in St. Louis were and the ovations he got both as they first got the stretcher up and then when he was actually coming off the ice.

I'll also add that what I have heard surrounding him (from people not associated with the Predators but who would know) was that the surgery went well.
- Jason Millen

That was nasty. Terrible thing to see.

Glad to hear the surgery went well. If you are going to need surgery away from home, St Louis is a good place to be. Hope the recovery goes well. Hate to see that happen, especially with a good young player like Fiala.