You knew things were going to get interesting in Nashville’s dominant 5-2 win over Colorado last night at Bridgestone Arena. When the scoring gets started by a pinball shot off Roman Josi from Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, then Calle Jarnkrok ties it 15 seconds later… well you know things might get weird. Jarnkrok, the recipient of a “message scratch… in Sunday’s game against Buffalo came out flying, frankly playing one of his best games as a Predator. Another example of head coach Peter Laviolette pulling the right trigger at the right time.
Lots of energy on the ice as Nashville was putting together a complete game against a Central Division opponent trying to get back into the playoff mix. Colorado simply couldn’t match up. Nashville hit the gas at the midway point of the first period when the captains went at it after Gabriel Landeskog put a hit on Roman Josi that Predators captain Shea Weber took extreme exception to, drawing a rarely called instigator penalty resulting in Weber sitting out a 2, 5, and 10… getting a break until midway through the second.
The Predators didn’t miss a beat, by the time the captain came back from serving his time, the Predators had a 3-1 lead that maintained through the end of the period.
The third started off fast, as Filip Forsberg potted his 21st of the year just :54 seconds into the period, which chased Av’s netminder Semyon Varlamov, who allowed 4 goals in 29 shots, giving way to Reto Berra who stopped all 11 shots he faced, including a flurry in his first :30 seconds of play. The Predators have been slowly developing the killer instinct they showed last night… they simply never let up, never stopped shooting and were rewarded with a 5-2 victory.
Here are the highlights courtesy of nhl.com…
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Tickets are now on sale for the SlapShot Radio Cook Off. Predators forward Eric Nystrom and I will be battling it out at The Chef and I in Lenox Village on Monday night, March 23rd. If you have never been to The Chef and I, it is an “open kitchen… restaurant that allows you to watch the chef create your dinner! An incredible, accessible and unique experience. Eric and I will be taking over the show kitchen to compete in an “Iron Chef… like battle to win the Cup!
Measuring Cup that is…
It’s all to raise money for the Nashville Predators Foundation and should be a lot of fun! Tickets are on sale at The Chef and I’s website… they handle catering, conduct fun cooking classes and run a fantastic restaurant. Chris and Erica Rains are amazing people!
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 2/24 – Nashville now has a six point lead in the President’s Trophy race over Montreal and Anaheim. The Habs do have a game in hand over both the Preds and Ducks. The Islanders trail by seven points. Nashville’s lead in the Western Conference is also six points, their lead in the Central is now up to 9 points over St. Louis and 12 over Chicago. The Blues have a game in hand over Nashville and Chicago.
- The Western Wild Card – Winnipeg (62 games played) remains in the first wild card slot with 73 points. The second slot is currently owned by the Minnesota Wild (60) with 69 points. Calgary (60) and San Jose (61) have 68 points, the LA Kings (59) hold third in the Pacific and are on a roll, the Flames and Sharks trail the last wild card by one point. Dallas (61) and Colorado (61) are six points back of the last slot.
- Tickets for Smashville are becoming harder and harder to come by… last night was a sellout, tomorrow has just a few remaining and Saturday? Well.. good luck with that one!
- Not a big fan of the instigator call on Shea Weber last night… this situation happens frequently and you never see the call. Call it, don’t call it… just get a little consistency on it.
- Five different Predators on the scoresheet last night… but not many assists… only four total assists on Preds goals last night.
- Lots of tongues wagging about Patrick Roy pulling his goalie with 12 minutes left last night. Honestly… the Av’s were down 4-1, on the power play and needed a spark… I like that he tried it, even if it didn’t work.
- Three games in and both Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson are looking a lot more comfortable on the ice, both turning in their best games so far in their second go-round with the franchise.
- Paul Gaustad was dominant in the face off circle last night, going 15-19 for a 79% win percentage.
- When you beat the Predators and Capitals in a back to back, you should beat the Hurricanes… Philly dropped a 4-1 decision to Carolina last night.
- Thursday night’s opponent, the Minnesota Wild dropped a 2-1 decision to the Oilers last night… the Wild’s first home loss in over a month. Their GM was busy during the game as the Wild acquired Sean Bergenheim from Florida for a 3rd and 7th round draft pick in this year’s draft.
- Patrick Kane was injured in last night’s game against Florida. The Chicago forward was shoved awkwardly into the boards and left the game. Initial indications are that Kane may miss at least a month, maybe as long as 10 weeks for an apparent shoulder injury. Not good news for the Blackhawks.
- Five days to trade deadline.
- The Los Angeles Kings won their 8th straight last night, shutting out Detroit 1-0
- Three games in the NHL today – Flames @ Devils, Penguins @ Capitals, Senators @ Ducks.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
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SlapShot Radio is back every Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network… Join us tonight as we talk with the author of “Black Ice… former NHL’er Val James, and we will preview Minnesota’s visit to Smashville with Wild Color Analyst (and former Pred broadcaster) Mike Greenlay.
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