SlapShot Radio’s intrepid photographer was back capturing the action at the Bridge, see the album at the the SlapShot Radio Facebook page.
All photos are courtesy of SlapShot Radio/DLM
And BTW, join us at 7pm on 102.5 the Game for SlapShot Radio. Pete Weber and I welcome Steve Carroll from the Ducks Radio team and CBSSports.com's Adam Gretz.
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C’mon… did anyone really expect a sweep? Really????
Anaheim was not going to just roll over and continue to play with the stupidity they did in games one and two. In the first major coaching adjustment made in the series, Anaheim bench boss Bruce Boudreau swapped goalies, inserted a veteran in Shawn Horcoff and seemed to get through to his players that the bullying techniques they employed in the first two games ain’t working.
The Ducks actually played hockey last night.
It was a calm, workman-like performance that had the Predators a bit befuddled, especially after the injury to Craig Smith early in the first period forced head coach Peter Laviolette to juggle his forward lines all night. That confusion, along with a Predator team that just didn’t seem to have the jump of the first two games was a recipe for a home loss.
Recognizing in post-game quotes is one thing… doing something about it is another. We will find out tomorrow night if Laviolette will be quicker on the counter-move trigger than his counterpart as I am not sure that Boudreau should’ve stood pat for game two.
So, with the series at 2-1, the chess match is joined. Successful moves from Peter Laviolette will send this series back to Anaheim 3-1, it will be interesting to watch if Boudreau has a few gambits ready himself. Game four tomorrow night at Bridgestone Arena, 7pm (thank heavens) start time.
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Cause for Joy – The Predators were significantly better in the faceoff circle last night, winning 52% of the draws.
Cause for Concern – Giveaways, 14 of ‘em to be exact… worst performance of the playoffs for the Preds. This HAS to get locked down.
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Random Playoff Notes
- No update on Craig Smith status so far, ok… he has been classified as day-to-day with a lower body injury… hell… at this time of year you have trouble to get a team to admit a player has a pulse.
- Last night was the first time the Predators have been shut out in a playoff game since Game Four of the second round of the 2012 playoffs.
- Three rather large catfish hit the ice last night, causing a slight delay on puck drop.
- The first potential series winning game of the playoffs happens tonight in Philadelphia…
- My word… what do you have to do to get suspended? Kris Letang tried to decapitate former Pred Viktor Stalberg last night and got nothing… no penalty, no supplemental discipline… bupkas. That’s a joke.
- And speaking of jokes… how do the Chicago Blackhawks get a power play out of their goaltender leaving the crease and starting a fight??? It would be a bigger deal if the Hawks won last night, instead, the Blues are heading back to St. Louis with a chance to ice the defending champs.
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Series Snapshots - all times Central
- Predators / Ducks – NSH leads 2-1 – Next game – 4/21 @ NSH – 7pm – Fox Sports TN
- Panthers / Islanders – NYI leads 2-1 – Next game – Tonight @ NYI – 7pm CT – USA Network
- Lightning / Red Wings – TBL leads 3-1 – Next game – 4/21 @ TBLT – 6pm CT - NBCSN
- Capitals / Flyers – WSH leads 3-0 – Next game – Tonight @ PHI – 6pm CT - NBCSN
- Penguins / Rangers – PIT leads 2-1 – Next game – 4/21 @ NYR – 6pm CT – CNBC
- Stars / Wild – DAL leads 2-1 – Next game – Tonight @ MIN – 8:30pm CT - NBCSN
- Blues / Blackhawks – STL leads 3-1 – Next game – 4/21 @ STL – 8:30pm CT - NBCSN
- Kings / Sharks – SJS leads 2-1 – Next game – Tonight @ SJS – 9:30pm CT – USA Network
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------------------------------------- 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.
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