Another win streak wrecked by the steamroller known as the Nashville Predators as they dismantled Central Division rival Dallas in a 5-2 win at American Airlines Center last night. Frankly, Nashville did not play that well last night, but found a way to win, the mark of a good team.
A scoreless first period had Dallas with the better chances until Jamie Benn took a rather silly penalty… and Nashville’s lethal power play made them pay :32 seconds later as Kevin Fiala walked in from the high slot unmolested and snapped home a goal top shelf to put the Preds up 1-0 heading to the room.
The second period opened and the wheels promptly fell off for Dallas. Cody McLeod scored 2:48 into the period, the first of three goals in a little less than five minutes for Nashville. Pontus Aberg finally got his first of the year, then Kyle Turris popped home another power play goal to give the Predators a 4-0 lead.
Uh-oh… the dreaded four goal lead. A lead that used to mean game over… but with this Preds team… you never know. The Predators take a penalty with 5:35 left in the second… is this where the pushback happens?
Nope, Stars defenseman John Klingberg with an awful giveaway, Austin Watson breaks out with the puck creating an odd man rush, tries a wrap around that ends up on Calle Jarnkrok’s stick and he roofs it for the shortie and a 5-0 lead.
The third saw a meek pushback from the Stars, the Stars got one a minute and a half in on a tip in and managed to get a second in garbage time but the story in the third was the outstanding play of Juuse Saros. Saros made a four save combination about five minutes into the period that was other-worldly. It was an outstanding 43 save performance from the young netminder and he was well deserving of accolades he was given last night… his last three NHL starts have been outstanding.
Nashville did one thing really well, limited the giveaways last night, on a night where they were out shot, out hit and beaten soundly in the face off circle. Plenty of stuff to work on in practice as the Preds next game is Friday night at Bridgestone Arena, then have a few more days off before playing in Vancouver next Wednesday.
Here are the highlights from last night…
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Random Notes
- Pred Nation has to be happy with where this team is right now, no Johansen, Ellis or Hartnell… two wins over hot teams. Health will always be the thing to look at, but wow… the depth of this team is impressive.
- Nice to see Alexei Emelin and Frederick Gaudreau hit the scoresheet last night.
- The Preds are now in first place in the Western Conference and the Central Division. They may not stay there long due to their schedule… only one game in the next seven days. In that same time span, the Blues play four times and the Jets play three times in that same timeframe.
- Can’t undersell how good Juuse Saros was last night… He was under siege in the second period, turning away all 21 Dallas shots.
- The Dallas goaltending situation, almost a third into the season, still does not seem to be any better than last year.
- KHL Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit took down Severstal 3-2 yesterday. Tolvanen was held off the scoresheet again and stands at 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points in 36 games.
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