The Nashville Predators wrested home ice advantage from the Anaheim Ducks early this morning with a 3-2 victory that gives the Preds a 1-0 lead in their first round series. A classic road win… early goal, survive the comeback and a timely bounce and the Preds are up early in this series.
James Neal got the scoring going early by taking advantage of a defensive breakdown as the Ducks missed a clearing opportunity, Ryan Johansen managed to push it over to James Neal who went five hole on Anaheim’s John Gibson and :35 seconds in, the Preds are in the lead.
Despite the early goal, the Preds did show a little rust from their six day layoff and Anaheim began to slowly but surely take control of the first period and the Predators did what they can’t do if they hope for long term success… take penalties. Mike Ribeiro for hooking 7 minutes in, bullet dodged… Anthony Bitetto with a creative call for Holding the Stick… Shea Weber makes the situation a lot tougher by taking an ill-advised cross checking penalty to put the Preds down two men.
That was a bridge too far, even though it took a lucky bounce, Ryan Getzlaff banged home a rebound off the post to tie the game. Then, Ryan Kesler potted a rather nasty wrister through traffic to get the second period going and you could almost hear Pred Nation use a few words that would get your mouth washed out with Lifebuoy.
But then the Predators began to take the game back… shift by shift… until playoff Colin Wilson made himself known with a nice tip-in from Ryan Ellis to tie the game, and again… shift-by-shift you could feel the momentum shift the visitor’s way. And then, a little more than halfway through the third period, Prince Filip strikes for the first time in the series, simply putting the puck where it needs to be, and after an unlucky bounce off the Ducks defenseman… The puck slid into the net for the game winner.
What I really liked about this game is way Nashville got stronger as the game progressed. Despite less than satisfactory games from a couple of key players, others stepped up, namely Ryan Ellis… jumping up into the play, stretching out to prevent goals, sacrificing in the crease… a simply stellar game from Ellis.
Now the Preds have an opportunity to come home with a 2-0 lead, they are playing with a bit of house money right now and they need to press this advantage. The chess game now commences… what moves will Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau make to spark his team? What counter moves with Peter Laviolette make? How do these coaches work the officials?
Game two is Sunday night at Honda Center… another late one as puck drop will be at 9:45pm central… prepare your bosses as there will be some tired Pred fans at work on Monday.
Damn… I love the playoffs!
-----------------------------------
------------------------------------- Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. Pete Weber and I cover the playoffs from pillar to post. This week we will be chatting with Anaheim Ducks radio play-by-play man (and former Voice of the Nashville Sounds) Steve Carroll and a lot more.
SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio. Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762. Also, our newest member of the SSR Sponsorship family is Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information, click here.