Call the first road trip of the season a success as the Nashville Predators return home for a three game homestand with a 4-1-0 start to the season. Last night’s 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators was another fairly ugly one, but a win is a win.
The post-game quotes say it all… the team called itself “a little bit flat… and “not quite as good.… Yup. Like the first three wins of the season, the team found a way to win in a less than stellar performance. That is the hallmark of a good team, and this Predators team is looking like a very good team. Offensively, last night was a little bit ugly… ironic after the best offensive effort of the season led to the teams only loss of the young season. James Neal, always known as a bit of a streaky scorer, is on one of those streaks… Two goals and the shootout winner last night qualifies as the start of one of those.
Props to Carter Hutton for a solid effort in his first start of the season, he made 38 saves and stood tall in the shootout. His best work may have been in the 3-on-3 overtime as Ottawa controlled the play for almost the entire five minute period. His performance has to give head coach Peter Laviolette a little confidence in starting Hutton a little more to balance out Rinne’s ice time like he is doing with the blueline… and speaking of the blueline…
The injury to Ryan Ellis, who appeared to take a puck off of an lightly protected part of his knee, will be re-evaluated either today or tomorrow… no further information is available. When Ellis first went down it appeared to be bad… very bad, but seeing the slow-motion replays may indicate a much more manageable situation. Stay tuned for more details on this one, but if your name is Victor Bartley or Anthony Bitetto, be ready.
So, Nashville is back home and begins a homestand Tuesday night against the powerful Tampa Bay Lightning. This one could be challenging as after the Lightning, the wounded Anaheim Ducks come in on Thursday and then the Pittsburgh Penguins hit Music City on Saturday.
Here are the highlights from nhl.com
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Random Notes
- The power play is looking pretty good for the Preds, clicking along at a 27% conversion rate, definite improvement over last season’s rather anemic one.
- Roman Josi continued his hot start, posting 2 more assists last night.
- Nashville has a scheduled day off today and will return to practice tomorrow at 11am CDT. The media calendar has the practice scheduled at Ford Ice Center.
- Nice comeback for the Islanders last night as they scored 3 in the third to beat the Sharks 6-3.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are now 0-6 after losing to Chicago last night. The Jackets have given up at least four goals in each game so far this season.
- Connor McDavid had his first multi-point game last night posting 2 goals and 1 assist in Edmonton’s first win of the season.
- No scoring from Sidney Crosby or Phil Kessel? No Problem as Kessel’s return to Toronto was fairly uneventful as the Leafs dropped a 2-1 decision to Pittsburgh.
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