Paul McCann: The Game 1 GBU

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.

The first game is always a statement game in a playoff series,
- pmccann

No it isn't.

The Blues brought it during the 3rd period. The Preds looked like a stumbling prizefighter in the 3rd and got the lucky puck bounce for Fidds. After Sobotka's goal, the Blues almost netted the back breaker.

Both teams had stretches of domination and suck. I guess that is the nature of our Jeckyll and Hyde teams.

Get well soon Fiala and best of luck to the StL Blues the rest of the series.

Nice game by 3-4 Dman PK Subban.

Both goalies came back to earth in this game.

Both goalies came back to earth in this game.
- jl639s

it was bound to happen

The first game is always a statement game in a playoff series,
- pmccann



No it isn't.

Most certainly is. Especially a win like that. They wanted it and you could tell. Although I do think they're still feeling each other out a bit. Great game of hockey. Both games last night were great hockey.

As far as the goalies...Rinne was barely tested in the first round. The Hawks looked like they didn't want to play hockey at all. Anemic, boring and lazy. Didn't deserve playoff hockey. So I don't think the "came back to earth" can be said, he wasn't tested. He was last night.

It was nice to see a competitive game unlike the Preds opponent during the first round.

Preds looked a lot like moments from the regular season. Hopefully it was due to the layoff of a few days? Also fortunate that Pekka played a bit better than Jake.
Time to get the speed and killer instinct back.
As for Jack Adams award..you can't go wrong with giving it to any of those three. My vote however would be for Todd.

Most certainly is. Especially a win like that. They wanted it and you could tell. Although I do think they're still feeling each other out a bit. Great game of hockey. Both games last night were great hockey.

As far as the goalies...Rinne was barely tested in the first round. The Hawks looked like they didn't want to play hockey at all. Anemic, boring and lazy. Didn't deserve playoff hockey. So I don't think the "came back to earth" can be said, he wasn't tested. He was last night.
- thepld

No, it isn't. All the games are worth the exact same.

No it isn't.
- bcallaway

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.

I really want to see Mcleod and Reeves have a go

Was Callie Jarnkrok a healthy scratch?

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

Preds take game one, statement game, winning on the road taking away a home ice advantage.

What if the Blues win game three in Nashville - that's a statement game?

Game four - incredibly important. Usually one team up 2-1. Do they go up 3-1 or does the other team even it up at 2-2.

Game five - statement game.

Game six - one team's facing elimination - big statement.

What does statement game even mean - especially when you're talking about the first game of a series?


You can't tell how a series is going to go from a game 1.

What does statement game even mean - especially when you're talking about the first game of a series?


- bcallaway

I was under the impression that every playoff game was a "statement game"?

That sounds like some silly buzz word that some talking head on NBCSN uses to fill air time on some postgame show.

First games don't mean anything guys
I mean, Nashville won game 1 vs Chicago and where did that get th... oh.

I was under the impression that every playoff game was a "statement game"?

That sounds like some silly buzz word that some talking head on NBCSN uses to fill air time on some postgame show.
- benderboots

Why are you arguing about that one sentence.... good grief there are more important things to argue about, such as line changes coming up for Nashville... who sits and who plays? What Does lavy do to keep the Pressure on the Blues? What changes do the Blues make??

Whether its a statement game or water shed moment is silly to argue about. Preds have taken an early lead in the series and taken home ice advantage against the blues... That a bit of a Statement. Second had the Preds lost gme one, I bet the Pred fans would be singing the blues and the sky is falling....... So Great win for Nashville.. It is a WIN

First games don't mean anything guys
I mean, Nashville won game 1 vs Chicago and where did that get th... oh.
- ChonDerry

Also let me ADD that Had the Roles been switched and the PREDS had played like the Blues I would be concerned... Right now I'm feeling pretty good about the Preds, but game two is a MUST WIN for the PREDS...... That is when we see if the Preds can match the blues and whatever changes they make.

The Preds got used to the Hawks letting them skate through without getting checked and the Blues made Fiala pay for it. Brutal...

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.

Also let me ADD that Had the Roles been switched and the PREDS had played like the Blues I would be concerned... Right now I'm feeling pretty good about the Preds, but game two is a MUST WIN for the PREDS...... That is when we see if the Preds can match the blues and whatever changes they make.
- pred_26

https://youtu.be/HcZOaOG0YOk

Regarding the 1st game NOT being a statement game.

I would beg to differ. It doesn't determine a series winner, or anything near that, but it is definitely a statement game.

https://youtu.be/HcZOaOG0YOk
- carcus

Ok.. a comedian.. ?

Regarding the 1st game NOT being a statement game.

I would beg to differ. It doesn't determine a series winner, or anything near that, but it is definitely a statement game.
- predswilrule

What is a statement game any ways?