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Twenty three games into the season and I have to admit… I am scratching my head. The Nashville Predators dropped the homecoming game from a tough five game road trip… that is almost a cliché… happens all the time, but last night’s disheartening 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres pointed out a couple of things… a few observations…
The Preds are squeezing the stick... a lot... They are looking for the perfect pass, the perfect shot, the little something extra to get this team out of its funk. This is something that has been growing over the past few weeks, culminating in a 217 minute scoreless streak that looks to have this team questioning itself. Nashville is still firing the puck for the most part, but is hitting a lot of iron and teetering on the edge of a breakout... all that is just adding to the frustration.
Another log to the bonfire of frustration was added last night as freshly recalled Viktor Arvidsson scored a goal to put the Preds up 2-0 midway through the second period. The goal was waived off on a highly questionable goaltender interference call. Arvidsson’s shot from the high slot went in as Buffalo defender Rasmus Ristolainen pushed Cody Hodgson into the crease where he barely brushed Buffalo goaltender Chad Johnson. Predators head coach Peter Laviolette challenged… the first goal he has challenged on the season. The officials reviewed, and refused to overturn their call. You have to wonder about the Freudian slip when the official announced the decision, almost calling it a goal before correcting himself.
That changed the entire tenor of the game… a few minutes later, Viktor Arvidsson was called for a five minute major for cross checking and appropriately tossed from the game. On the ensuing five minute major, a missed penalty really impacted the rest of the game.
Buffalo netminder Chad Johnson, who had an excellent game, about 45 second before Buffalo scored the tying goal, clearly played the puck in the corner, an area he is forbidden to play it… a two minute minor should have been called, negating a large portion of the Buffalo power play. No call was made and the Sabres went on to score two power play goals in the major penalty, effectively salting the game away.
Look… take nothing away from the Sabres… they are not as bad a team as has been advertised. There is a lot of talent there and Dan Bylsma is a really good coach. They took advantage of every situation and got the win… Truth be told, Nashville did not have a lot of jump last night after coming off a five game roadie.
The Preds are off today… and can get back into a regular swing of things as the rest of the month features short roadies, surrounded by slightly longer home stands. Not only does this team to get back to a rhythm, the Nashville Predators need to loosen up a bit and get back to having a little fun…
Here are the highlights, courtesy of NHL.com…
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Random Notes
- Mike Fisher’s goal last night was the 250th of his career.
- Craig Smith played in his 300th NHL game last night.
- Juuse Saros had a solid outing last night in his first NHL start.
- The Philadelphia Flyers sprung off their OT win over the Preds to take down the Rangers yesterday 3-0.
- Ahhh… there’s the John Tortorella we’ve been waiting for, quoted post game as saying “Pittsburgh whines enough for the whole league.… Ahhh… welcome back Johnny!
- Helluva win for the LA Kings last night, coming back for a 3-2 overtime win against the Blackhawks.
- Comebacks were the order of the day yesterday as Dallas overcame a 0-3 hole to beat Minnesota 4-3 in overtime.
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