Call it a bookend to one helluva run, or call it the start of another. Last night’s 4-3 win over Los Angeles saw the Nashville Predators simplify their game, get back to shot volume vs. shot quality and skate the way Pred Nation knows they can. A win that turned what could’ve been a disastrous one point road trip into an acceptable 3 point trip. It was a win that sealed Peter Laviolette as the head coach of the Central Division All-Star team and sent the boys home feeling a little better about themselves.
Last night’s win was an excellent example of how to use a bad loss and turn it into the fuel they needed to get back on the horse. Look no further than Austin Watson’s two goal performance. After a bad penalty that put the Preds in a hole they couldn’t crawl out of in Arizona, Watson had what could be called the best game of his NHL career, potting two goals for the first time in his career and playing up to the edge, without going over it.
It was nice to be on the receiving end of some undisciplined play for once, as Los Angeles took three penalties in :15 seconds halfway through the first period leading to Roman Josi’s goal to put the Preds up 1-0. The Preds had to feel good about their play after one, but the Kings put on a nice push early in the second and some loose play with the puck from PK Subban led to uncontested chance for Adrian Kempe, and the King forward buried it to tie the game. While this victimized Subban in this case, it does point out an improvement opportunity for the entire blueline to tighten things up a bit with the puck.
The tie only lasted for about five minutes as Scott Hartnell poked home a sweet feed from Ryan Johansen to put the Preds up and five minutes later, Watson slammed home the first of his two goals off Subban’s second assist of the night to send the teams to the room with the Preds leading 3-1.
This is a good Kings team and they showed it with a powerful push in the third period… Trevor Lewis closed the Kings to within one just four minutes in… and before panic had a chance to set in for Pred Nation, Austin Watson potted his second of the night just 1:09 later to restore the two goal lead. Of course it wouldn’t be a Preds/Kings game without some third period drama. Ryan Ellis took a holding penalty two minutes later and LA made the Preds pay with a power play goal from Tyler Toffoli to slice the lead in half again.
But this time, the Predators locked it down, and those chances that got through were stopped by Pekka Rinne. All-in-all, a solid road win for Nashville that salvaged a tough road trip. Surviving and thriving in these situations certainly can be good for team, especially come playoff time.
The Predators are home now, with one more game before their bye week, Tuesday’s matchup with the Edmonton Oilers inside the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena.
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“Where We Stand… update… a daily tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most, brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
After last night’s play, the Predators stand second in the Central Division with 54 points, one point behind Winnipeg (1 GIH) and tied in point with St. Louis (3 GIH) … the Preds lead Dallas by three points (2 GIH)… and lead Colorado (0 GIH) and Minnesota by five points (1 GIH.)
Impact games today (all time Central) – 2pm - Edmonton @ Chicago, San Jose @ Winnipeg, St. Louis @ Washington.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 96% after yesterday’s play.
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Random Notes
- Last night was Kevin Fiala’s 100th NHL game.
- PK Subban had his third multi-point game in his last five game.
- The Predators are now at the exact mid-point of their season, they have 54 points in 41 games.
- Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans on a crazy win over Kansas City yesterday. Next week’s playoff opponent is still TBD pending the outcome of the Bills/Jaguars game.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen finished the World Juniors tournament with 1 goal and 5 assists for Team Finland. Tolvanen now returns to Jokerit in the KHL, however he is not in the lineup for today’s game against Metallurg.
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