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Take the point, and move on. In the first home loss of the young season, the Nashville Predators gutted out a 2-1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Preds used an odd jumping off point for the game… killing off a five minute penalty in the first period. The team clearly fired off the solid defensive effort in keeping the Pittsburgh power play bottled up on Austin Watson’s major for boarding. There were precious few chances in the first and the teams went to the room in a scoreless tie.
The Predators really stepped up the offense in the second period, only to be frustrated by an excellent outing by Marc-Andre Fluery. Well, and a little help from Fluery’s good friend, the post. Seriously, the Preds hit so muany posts last night that the Iron Workers Union called to collect dues. After only five shots in the first period, the Predators posted 17 in the second and 17 in the third. Credit Fluery… at times I would’ve liked to see a little more traffic in front, but you can’t take away from the outstanding effort from the much-maligned Pittsburgh goaltender.
It was really beginning to feel like the first goal would win it, and when Chris Kunitz scored with five minutes to go in the second period, Pred Nation was wondering if anything was going to bounce Nashville’s way. It is said that hard work drivers luck and that was the case on the tying goal 11:27 into the third. James Neal had been buzzing the net all game and his determination in along with some fundamental hockey tied the game up. IN most games that involve a goal (basketball, soccer, hockey) there is a fundamental axiom… follow your shot… that’s what led to Neal banging in his own rebound for his sixth of the year.
That axiom would come into play again in the overtime as :41 seconds in, Phil Kessel banged in his own rebounds to take the extra point and keep Nashville winless at home against the Penguins for another season, their last home win over Pittsburgh takes you all the way back to 2009.
It’s time for the CMA Road Trip, next home game is in two weeks, Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday November 7 against St. Louis. The Predators will head to California first for games against San Jose, LA and Anaheim before finishing the trip in Minnesota in the team’s first Central Division matchup of the season.
Highlights from nhl.com
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Random Notes
- Viktor Arviddson is racking up some frequent flyer miles, recalled after Calle Jarnkrok couldn’t go, he has been sent back down after the game.
- Anthony Bitetto has been sent to Milwaukee for a conditioning assignment.
- James Neal is tied with five other players for third in the NHL in goal scoring.
- Pekka Rinne is tied for second in the NHL in wins, 2 behind Montreal’s Carey Price.
- Last night’s OT loss combined with Dallas’ loss to Florida puts the Predators all alone in the top spot in the Central Division and the Western Conference.
- The Montreal Canadiens won their 9th consecutive game last night, setting a record for consecutive regulation wins to start a season.
- St. Louis’ injury woes continue to mount, forward Jaden Schwartz is out for at least 12 weeks following ankle surgery.
- Columbus is finally off the schnide, beating Colorado last night for their first win of the season and first win under new head coach John Tortorella.
- Right now, the Anaheim Ducks couldn’t score on Dickerson Road with a pocket full on $100’s… they went down to Minnesota 3-0 last night. Bad times for the pre-season Cup favorite.
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Season eight of SlapShot Radio is here! Wednesday night we feature HHOF broadcaster and the Voice of the LA Kings Bob Miller along with the man who now gets to deal with John Tortorella on a daily basis… Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch
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