OK, I’ve slept on it… and I still can’t get by it…
@NHL This is waived off for incidental contact? On who, Varly?
— Chris Alexander (@GreyNation) April 8, 2015It just doesn't make sense. Calls usually go our way in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/t2kwHN69Vg
— Gnash (@Gnash00) April 8, 2015I get the whole “they shouldn’t have been in the position to need it… argument, I really do, but these calls are simply ridiculous, in the same rink, in consecutive seasons, both costing the team two points. Just sayin’, the momentum swing caused by irresponsibly waiving off a goal, 18 seconds after the Predators had tied the game was a key factor in the game, not the only one… but it was a key and no amount of explaining away changes that fact.
Look, I won’t put on the Vancouver style “Everybody Hates Us… tin foil hat, because it isn’t true. This is a team that isn’t firing on all cylinders right now… hell … this is a team firing like a 1958 Ford Edsel that needs a ring job… the swagger this team had in the first sixty games is no longer there, and that is a deeply troubling observation.
The game comes down to that blown call and nine seconds late in the second period where noted Pred-Killer Jarome Iginla got Colorado on the board and Ryan O’Reilly gave the Av’s the lead. All that being said, the Predators squandered a gift… by the third period, both Chicago and St. Louis had lost and Nashville had the chance to retake first in the division and that did not happen.
The frustration, nervousness and near panic is palpable in Pred Nation. Thank heavens there are only two games left before the playoffs start and the predictions of Nashville going down in the first round begin to swirl. That’s not a bad thing, this team seems to like to surprise people. Being back in an “underdog… role may be a good thing.
The Minnesota Wild are in town for tomorrow night’s Fan Appreciation Night at Bridgestone Arena, limited tickets remain for the regular season home finale.
Here are the highlights, from nhl.com… and I will give them credit, they do not avoid the blown call…
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 4/7 – Nashville continues to trail division leading St. Louis by one point with 104 points. Anaheim leads in the Western Conference with 107 points. Chicago is three points behind the Blues, 2 behind the Preds. All teams in the West have played 80 games as of this morning.
- The Western Wild Card – Minnesota (80 games played) owns the first wild card slot with 98 points, the Winnipeg Jets (80) are in the last wild card slot with 96 points, the LA Kings (80) have dropped three points behind the Jets and two points behind the Flames and now need plenty of help to make the playoffs.
- Who Should Pred Nation Root for Tonight? – Dallas to win in overtime against the Ducks. That would keep the Ducks within striking range.
- Playoff Seeding Update - The only Western Conference seed that seems to be on lock is Minnesota. They clinched the playoffs last night and their seed is not mathematically assured, they appear to be a lock for the first wild card in the West. Anaheim has won the Pacific and will play one of the wild cards. Vancouver has the 2nd spot in the Pacific fairly well in hand. Other than that… the West is still in question. In the East, the Rangers have clinched the President’s Trophy, Conference and their division. Montreal leads the Atlantic, but Tampa is only two back. The Wild Card in the East is in serious question as Ottawa’s run has been amazing.
- A simply amazing night of hockey last night, I had to get very creative between Game Center, Center Ice and the Predators game… I had two tablets, a phone and a TV going at once… nah… I ain’t too much of a hockey fan!
- The Los Angeles Kings are probably on their last legs for this season. They have played a lot of hockey over the past four years and I wonder if it is finally catching up to them.
- Speaking of LA… why didn’t they start Quick last night? Scratching my head on that one.
- The Wild and the Canucks officially punched their playoff ticket last night.
- Still four playoff spots unclaimed in the Eastern Conference and last night’s play just confused the situation more. Boston needs points, but still has three games to play, so they have an inside track at claiming one of the Wild Cards, they are currently tied in points with Ottawa but have a game in hand over the Sens.
- When Pittsburgh / Ottawa went OT last night, you could almost hear the sigh of relief from Pens fans… they needed that point. Still work to be done for Pittsburgh to clinch, but the job is a little easier now.
- The Tank Watch – Arizona and Buffalo have the bottom two spots wrapped up as Edmonton has 61 points vs. the Coyotes 56 and the Sabres 54. The Oilers win last night assures them of finishing 28th in the league, officially keeping them out of the bottom two. The Tank Watch is over!
- Three games in the NHL tonight – Maple Leafs @ Blue Jackets, Bruins @ Capitals, Stars @ Ducks.
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