SlapShot Radio's photographer caught all the action last night in Smashville. Click on the picture to see the entire album. Pictures courtesy DM Photography
The Predators dropped another shootout last night, this time to the Carolina Hurricanes dropping the team’s record to 3-5-3 on the first 11 games of the season. Nine points in eleven games has the team 12th in the conference and in the basement of the Central Division, four points behind third place Minnesota, and a single point out of the final wild card spot.
OK… it’s not panic time… but it is time to figure this out quick before the hole gets to deep.
My observations? A couple of things…
Work Ethic – Multiple players called out work ethic post game last night. Colin Wilson said that the team has thought they could win on talent, questioning the team’s ethic… Ryan Johansen saying that the team needs to “work smarter.…
Consistency – You not only wonder what team comes out from game-to-game, you now are wondering what team comes out period to period. The last two games saw a dominant team for the first two periods that just seemed to say “aww the heck with it… come the third. The three wins all had 60 minute efforts.
Finish – Last night’s game showed a real lack of finish as the Hurricanes gave the Predators breakaway after breakaway with only James Neal converting… a team with talent that this team has should have been up 4-0 by the end of the second period by simply finishing.
Puck Luck – If a bounce is going anyone’s way… it ain’t Nashville’s. This is one of those things that will balance out as the season goes on, but it has been frustrating.
One of the positives I have seen is Filip Forsberg… he is dialing it in. You just know that once he gets his first, you will look up ten games later and he will have a dozen goals. You also need to call out Matt Irwin’s performance, he has been a pleasant surprise and looks to have pushed Matt Carle to the scratch list on a consistent basis. Five on five play is a little better, special teams play is a little worse.
So far… the damage has not been fatal. Only two points out of a playoff spot at this point in the season is not cause for panic… but there is cause for serious concern. This team is too talented to be in the position they are in.
Next game is Tuesday night against Ottawa, puck drop at 7pm…some tickets remain and besides… what else is going on this Tuesday? :-)
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Random Notes
- Matt Irwin scored his third of the season last night with a seeing eye wrister that somehow found the net.
- Concern in Nashville but there is panic in Vancouver as the Canucks dropped their 8th straight game last night.
- Wow… wearing Victory Green can be hazardous to your health… the Dallas Stars just added Jason Spezza to their insanely long injury list.
- Six games in the NHL tonight – All times Central – 4pm – COL @ STL, EDM @ DET. 5pm – NJD @ CAR. 6pm – DAL @ CHI, WPG @ NYR. 8:30pm – CGY @ ANA.
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