Frustration… it’s the only way to describe the reaction to a 3-2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames last night at Bridgestone Arena. A night that saw the Nashville Predators jump out to a 2-0 lead on two power play goals in the first eight minutes of the game and saw the Preds buzzing for most of the first 30 minutes of game play… then, the worm turned…
Right about the time a rebound popped out in front of a wide open Flames net, with Kevin Fiala right there with the chance to put the Preds up 3-0 and the chance to snuff out any thoughts of comeback from the Flames… and he promptly whiffed on the attempt as the puck took a bad bounce right over his stick. It was one of those things that happen to every player in every game at some point in their career, but it still has the capability to haunt a young player.
The game turned on that point. Calgary got that thing you don’t want to give a team at a tipping point… hope.
Calgary’s play began to pick up steam, their 5-on-5 play was a notch above Nashville’s on this night and the Preds couldn’t seem to get it together enough to match the Flames and an old story unfolded before the sold out crowd… goal… two minutes later… tying goal… hang on for OT… get to OT… drop the shootout.
You do wonder why the team struggles so in the extra frame and skills competition. These wasted points will come back to bite them come April. You hate to think that a blown point in October could make a big difference… but it can.
The bright spots of last night’s loss was between the pipes as Pekka Rinne continued his outstanding play giving up two goals on 32 shots and the power play, converting on 2 of their 3 opportunities on the night.
An extra day between games this week as the team has a back-to-back over the weekend… Friday night in Chicago, then back home to face the Islanders before hitting the road for two weeks.
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Random Notes
- Filip Forsberg tied the franchise record for goals in October at 7… wouldn’t be surprised to see that get surpassed over the weekend.
- The key to Forsberg this season so far is that his scoring feels a little different. He has always been a streaky scorer and you could sense when he was about to go on one of his hot streaks. This season he seems to be more consistent… more purposeful, which is very good news for Pred Nation.
- Matt Irwin had an awful game last night… his second consecutive… I wonder if head coach Peter Laviolette pulls the Girard card Friday night.
- Vegas ran its record to 7-1-0 last night with a win over Chicago.
- KHL Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit club has dropped two in a row after a 15 game win streak. They lost to Lokomotiv yesterday 4-3 but Tolvanen got back on the scoresheet, posting his 12 the goal of the season. Tolvanen has 12 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 21 games. He is in a 5 way tie for 5th in KHL goal scoring. Jokerit takes on Barys today.
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