Another national TV appearance and another win for the Nashville Predators as they took down the Chicago Blackhawks again in front of a gold clad, playoff intensity, crazed crowd packed Smashville for the 3-2 win. The win extended the team’s run of collecting points in 11 of 12 games, going 10-1-1 over that span.
Pekka Rinne was once again outstanding in net, making 37 saves in the winning effort, stoning breakaways, stopping quality scoring chances and generally doing Pekka Rinne things in beating the Blackhawks again.
Chicago needed a fast start… that didn’t happen as the JoFA line struck early as Filip Forsberg converted on a wonderful chance by remembering the fundamentals… follow your shot! Forsberg launched a shot from the high slot off a beauty of a pass from Viktor Arvidsson, then broke down the slot and deposited the rebound for his 12th of the year. The lead didn’t last long as Tommy Wingels scored a few minutes later to complete the scoring in the first period. This game may have been won in the second period. The Predators brought it hard throughout the period, scoring early on an Austin Watson redirect of a Matt Irwin blast. Once the Predators took the lead, Rinne took the game over. The nasty givewaway bug bit the Predators leading to breakaways and golden scoring chances that were foiled again and again by the big Finn. In the other net… you gotta give Hawks netminder Anton Forsberg credit… he was under siege in the last two periods of this game and kept Chicago in the game.
Another early period goal for Nashville… this time on the power play from the captain who blasted home a bullet that Anton Forsberg never saw. You can see Roman Josi developing in the captain’s role with each passing game. His leadership skills are natural, but he is developing those skills in a way that is only good news for this Predators team. Josi has embraced the C on the sweater and is flourishing under its weight.
The Blackhawks are a proud team and the inevitable pushback happened, but Nashville handled it differently then we have seen previously. Lance Bouma drew the Hawks within one with a little less than 10 minutes to go in the game… you could almost feel the tension coming from the crowd as an attitude of “here we go again!… permeated the rink. But the Predators settled down, counted on their goaltender who was outstanding in the closing moments of the game including an amazing save with :44 seconds remaining in the game on a Tommy Wingles scoring chance. This was a key win for Nashville. Putting a little distance between the top three in the Central and the peloton following them. Twenty four games in and the Preds are 2 points out of the division lead, tied in points with Winnipeg for 2nd. Both the Jets and Blues are in action tonight.
Next up for Nashville, the Vancouver Canucks hit town for a Thursday tilt at Bridgestone Arena.
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Random Notes
- The Predators ended their affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals with very little explanation.
- The Predators are 9-1-1 at home so far this season and have scored at least one power play goal in each of their 11 home games.
- The shot blocking in the final few moments of last night's game was amazing, Austin Watson and Roman Josi were blocking shots left and right.
- The Predators held Patrick Kane off the scoresheet, snapping the snipers seven game point streak.
- KHL Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit club beat Sibir 2-1 yesterday. Tolvanen was again held off the scoresheet and stands at 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points in 33 games. Jokerit is back in action today against Amur.
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------------------------------------- SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.
We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. Our co-hosts, Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bring a true insiders perspective to the show. Tonight’s show features Boomer Gordon from NHL Network Radio and Corey Hirsch, radio color analyst for the Vancouver Canucks.
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