The Nashville Predators brought energy, physicality and timely scoring to Honda Center last night as they took Game One of the Western Conference Finals 3-2 in overtime over the Anaheim Ducks. It’s a familiar script, but last night… it had a twist. The Predators dominated the first period, but came out of it down 1-0 as Anaheim scored on their first shot on goal. The first time the Predators had to come from behind in a Game One.
This series was on almost from the opening faceoff… or at least on the second faceoff of the game when Ryan Kesler hooked Ryan Johansen and corkscrewed him into the ice. The Ducks sent a message early with their physical play, but Nashville answered the bell, coming at the Ducks in waves with relentless pressure. Finally breaking through with a goal… and the Prince has returned.
Filip Forsberg broke through with a beauty of a redirect of a Matt Irwin shot from the point that went five hole and tied the game with about seven and a half minutes to go in the first period. The Ducks pushed back, but Pekka Rinne was so strong in net that the period ended tied.
Nashville came out strong again in the second and a broken line change led to the 15th separate Pred to score a goal in this playoff run, Ryan Johansen took a nice drop pass from Mattias Ekholm and found Austin Watson with a gorgeous cross-ice pass that Watson one-timed past a sprawling John Gibson to put the Preds up 2-1.
The Predators were given a golden opportunity to go up two as Anaheim couldn’t keep the puck in the rink, getting two puck over glass penalties that gave the Preds almost a minute and a half of 5-on-3 that they could not convert on. Anaheim’s PK was showing regular season form as that kill swung the momentum in the game and the Ducks took full advantage of it, culminating in the game tying goal from Hampus Lindholm, just 7:21 in to the third period. The Ducks continued to push, but Rinne was there, turning aside all chances and forcing the game into overtime.
Nashville came out strong in OT and got back to their game, quick passes, quick ups through the neutral zone leading to repeated scoring chances… when about eight minutes in, once again, the Predators working as a five man unit made magic happen.
Mattias Ekholm pinched down to the goal line and saw an opportunity to drive the net, his attempt was foiled by the scramble in front of the net collapsed the Ducks defense… Ekholm skated through to the corner where he picked up the loose puck and got it back to the point for PK Subban, who faked the slapper and passed to a wide open James Neal who hammered it home for the win.
Yeah baby… that’s one… Let’s get on with the GBU…
The Good - James Neal, after going scoreless in the first round just potted his 4th of the playoffs on the game winner, and Pekka Rinne… how good was he??? This good… And this good… Oh yeah… and this one…
The Bad - Giveaways… way too many of them. Rinne was excellent, but 18 giveaways as officially tracked may have been kind…
The Ugly - Face offs… Only Ryan Johansen was over 50% as he won 60% of the draws. This has to get better as possession is way too important to this team.
So, Game One is in the books… the Predators will come home to Bridgestone Arena with no less than a split in Anaheim no matter what happens tomorrow… Game Two is on NBCSN at 6:30pm central.
So… now let’s get to the ECF preview…
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators – The heavy favorite vs the dark horse, I have been on the Senators train for this playoff run, their coach has learned a lot of lessons from previous roles, they have one of the best players in the league and a goaltender capable of stealing a series. The defending champs showed the heart of a champion in game seven against Washington, bettered beaten and bloodied, they are not giving up their crown easily.
X-Factor – For Ottawa it is Bobby Ryan, the Cherry Hill, NJ native is a key to making sure everything doesn’t fall on Erik Karlsson’s shoulders. For Pittsburgh it is their defense, which is patched together with chicken wire, tissue paper and spit.
How Can the Underdog Win? - Play their game, leverage Karlsson for all his is worth and hope that Criag Anderson remains stellar in net.
Prediction - Don’t believe the nattering nabobs of negatism when they say that the Stanley Cup Final has already been played. Ottawa has a real shot in this one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ottawa wins in six… but it is my belief that Pittsburgh will take this in seven grueling games.
Puck drops on the ECF tonight at 6pm.
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Conference Final Reset/b>
Eastern Conference
PIT vs. OTT – Series begins tonight in Pittsburgh
Western Conference
ANA vs. NSH – NSH leads 1-0 – Game two tomorrow night in Anaheim.
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