Paul McCann: Game Six - Elimination?

Meh...this may be the best regular season Preds team but they've been average in the playoffs. Very sloppy, mental lapses, really maybe only two complete games. Peks has cooled down and the Turris line is on a milk carton. Maybe they thought they were entitled this year and didn't have to do much, who knows?

They have to win two in a row now. Doesn't seem likely.

It's going to be a long off-season.

Nashville media is just now asking the question in the past couple of days. I've been asking it for months. What is wrong with Roman Josi? This is a team captain who put up over 50 points as a D-man in the regular season. This is a defenseman that is regarded as one of the best 10-15 in the league by many experts. He has ZERO points in this series. He is a minus-5, and has been virtually invisible as a puck mover. What's more, the team he is captaining doesn't seem to be able to play 60 minutes of solid hockey on any given night. Something isn't working.

The reason the Preds find themselves in this situation isn't solely on Josi. You have to give the Jets full credit & respect. They are a really skilled, fast, physical team that will make you pay for mistakes. And they have. And there have been plenty of missteps by the Preds as a whole - bad giveaways, poor D coverage at times, and some mediocre goaltending at times too. But to win a cup, your best players have to be your best players. That's not happening for the Preds.

Rinne had a Vezina quality regular season. The Preds top 4 D are widely considered the best in the league. And while the Preds top line might not have the scoring prowess of the top offenses in the league - their offensive depth was considered a huge strength. Does Rinne look like the best goalie in the league? Does this defense look like the best? What about all that scoring depth? It hasn't shown up.

I really hope the Preds win tonight. I haven't given up. They can certainly win if they play a great game. But given their uneven play this post-season, can we reasonably expect their best effort in this game? I'm not so sure. And if they don't play their best game of the playoffs tonight, elimination or no, I really think they need to reassess team leadership.

It will be seen as a panic move, but imho I'd go Saros.

Rinne would be exposed on a mid tier club.

Nashville is a great team! I am hoping that the Jets can snuff out any hope of them making a comeback early. That 1st goal for both teams is going to be huge.

Wheeler said it best during the Minnesota series, that once you have your foot on their throat, you have to end it. He knows best considering he was on that Boston team that was up 3-0 on Philly to only watch their lead disappear.

Also, hoping that we get game 3 Byfuglien and not game 4 Byfuglien. He has a bad habit of buying his own hype.

Here's to a great game and: GO JETS GO!!!

Nashville media is just now asking the question in the past couple of days. I've been asking it for months. What is wrong with Roman Josi? This is a team captain who put up over 50 points as a D-man in the regular season. This is a defenseman that is regarded as one of the best 10-15 in the league by many experts. He has ZERO points in this series. He is a minus-5, and has been virtually invisible as a puck mover. What's more, the team he is captaining doesn't seem to be able to play 60 minutes of solid hockey on any given night. Something isn't working.

The reason the Preds find themselves in this situation isn't solely on Josi. You have to give the Jets full credit & respect. They are a really skilled, fast, physical team that will make you pay for mistakes. And they have. And there have been plenty of missteps by the Preds as a whole - bad giveaways, poor D coverage at times, and some mediocre goaltending at times too. But to win a cup, your best players have to be your best players. That's not happening for the Preds.

Rinne had a Vezina quality regular season. The Preds top 4 D are widely considered the best in the league. And while the Preds top line might not have the scoring prowess of the top offenses in the league - their offensive depth was considered a huge strength. Does Rinne look like the best goalie in the league? Does this defense look like the best? What about all that scoring depth? It hasn't shown up.

I really hope the Preds win tonight. I haven't given up. They can certainly win if they play a great game. But given their uneven play this post-season, can we reasonably expect their best effort in this game? I'm not so sure. And if they don't play their best game of the playoffs tonight, elimination or no, I really think they need to reassess team leadership.
- holycow_75

Spot on about Josi. In order for a team to be led, it has to have a leader. Josi seems lost. Heck he IS lost! He needs to act like an elite player. On the Pekka question, and Yes Pekka is a question, I think he has always had a confidence problem in the playoffs. He's almost too humble if you ask me.

If you ask me, I think the Preds lost this series in Game 3.

It will be seen as a panic move, but imho I'd go Saros.

Rinne would be exposed on a mid tier club.
- flyer_nutter

Couldn't agree more.

Yes Jusse should start game 6....But Rinne is flat A$$ solid, don't think otherwise....he just got in a slump at the wrong time, he has had a HORRIBLE series. Everyone got excited after game 3 but Rinne had it easy. My guess is Rinne starts game 6 but the leash is VERY short........GO PREDS

Chicago sat Crawford and played Darling on the way to their most recent cup, Joel Q looked like a genius for making the switch
Pittsburgh decided to go with Murray instead of Fleury, who at the time was a no name rookie that still had acne. Mike Sullivan looks like a genius for sitting the fan favorite goalie

Both of those coaches made the hard decisions and it has paid off.

Does Lavy have the balls?

It's funny, when I suggested they sit Peks during the Avs series, everyone read me the riot act (one idiot suggested it implied Saros was Patrick Roy). Rinne peaked in winter.

It's funny, when I suggested they sit Peks during the Avs series, everyone read me the riot act (one idiot suggested it implied Saros was Patrick Roy). Rinne peaked in winter.
- FoxMulder

He has let in 20 goals (22 counting empty net goals, i think) in 5 games. Honestly, a lot of those goals it's hard to blame Rinne. Hellebuyck has let in more goals that he probably should have stopped than Rinne.

Couldn't agree more.
- f14fixr

They would have won the cup last year had Rinne not absolutely tanked games 1 and 2. Leash needs to be suuuuuuper short

I hope he retires in the off-season and we go with Saros. And a new captain. This team just seems aimless right now.

Chicago sat Crawford and played Darling on the way to their most recent cup, Joel Q looked like a genius for making the switch
Pittsburgh decided to go with Murray instead of Fleury, who at the time was a no name rookie that still had acne. Mike Sullivan looks like a genius for sitting the fan favorite goalie

Both of those coaches made the hard decisions and it has paid off.

Does Lavy have the balls?
- benderboots

Sullivan didn't have a choice. When he started Murray, Flurry was out with a concussion. His other option was Jeff Zakoff.

The following year, Murry was injured in warmups and so Sulivan used Flurry early on, but went back to Murry once he was healthy and flurry showed the slightest bit of weakness. After all, at that point, Murry was basicly Pitt's starter.

This...

Meh...this may be the best regular season Preds team but they've been average in the playoffs. Very sloppy, mental lapses, really maybe only two complete games. Peks has cooled down and the Turris line is on a milk carton. Maybe they thought they were entitled this year and didn't have to do much, who knows?

They have to win two in a row now. Doesn't seem likely.

It's going to be a long off-season.
- FoxMulder

Btw I’m sick of hearing abt Vegas, they got to rape teams for top six players, of course they would be good. There is a LOT of money behind Vagas and that team has to succeed, if they didn’t I would expect a lot of broken thumbs.

Lastly, I’ve got a 50/50 feeling abt Nashville tonight they will win or loose this game in the first 40 mins...... if they go out, you can blame Polie or Lavy.. the blame falls on something happening in that locker room with Josie and his lack of leadership...

They would have won the cup last year had Rinne not absolutely tanked games 1 and 2. Leash needs to be suuuuuuper short
- wilkobecks

Hes a good goalie he just has a streaky disposition and lets in some soft stuff. This isn't accounting for the defense hanging him out to dry, but on his own merit he is streaky.

Paul,

Actually the earlier iteration of the Jets did make it to the WCF, they were called the Coyotes when they put Nashville out in the semi's in 2012.

Lastly, I’ve got a 50/50 feeling abt Nashville tonight they will win or loose this game in the first 40 mins...... if they go out, you can blame Polie or Lavy.. the blame falls on something happening in that locker room with Josie and his lack of leadership...
- PREDX1

Maybe the lack of leadership has to do with bringing former captain fisher back ?

Just in Hartnell in and with Miikka Salomaki and Ryan Hartman out

Just in Hartnell in and with Miikka Salomaki and Ryan Hartman out
- PREDX1

Give me a just in of Jusse in Pekka out.....PLEASE

I hope he retires in the off-season and we go with Saros. And a new captain. This team just seems aimless right now.
- FoxMulder

92 for Captain / Sarros = starter / 35 jersey hanging in the rafters

Give me a just in of Jusse in Pekka out.....PLEASE
- PRED POWER

Next game Saros will be in. The next game is September, but he'll be in.

For all those hating on Pekka remember you cant win unless you SCORE more than the other team......