Before I get to last night’s game… thanks to all who have donated to my BeardAThon link. We are 52% to goal and still going… You can donate here and all funds benefit the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund. I so appreciate the support… there is still time to donate, and I ain’t shaving till this run is done…
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One of Pred Nation’s favorite openings for a game is the 2009 Jay Z / Kanye / Rihanna favorite “Run This Town… where the question is asked “who’s gon run this town tonight?… In a span of a little less than three minutes early in the third period of last night’s Game 5, the Nashville Predators answered that question with authority, staving off elimination with a wholly satisfying 5-2 victory in front of a sea of screaming, gold clad, maniacal Predator fans at an oversold Bridgestone Arena.
Like a couple of heavyweights deep into a championship fight, both teams were, understandably, a little tired… and it showed at the end of the second period. Both Chicago and Nashville trading rather uninspired chances, sloppy passing just a smidge off… I, for one, thought that the third period was going to be decided by a single goal. Heh… as a prognosticator, I’m a helluva blogger.
The Predators absolutely exploded offensively, beginning with James Neal’s wrap around goal :47 seconds in. That goal hit the Preds like a double espresso and you could see the explosion coming and the Preds did not make their fans wait too long as Colin Wilson scored his 5th of the playoffs 2:17 later after a sweet pass and even sweeter move that dropped Darling to his knees, Wilson put it top shelf, and with that goal, regained the lead in goal scoring for the playoffs, tying with Vladimir Tarasenko.
And there was much rejoicing.
That didn’t last long as just :12 seconds later, Filip Forsberg scored his second of the game, taking an incredible feed from Mike Fisher and advantage of another Blackhawk defensive breakdown to put the Predators up 4-1 and effectively extending a friendly middle finger to the PHWA who didn’t vote him as even a freakin’ finalist for the Calder, despite being at the top of almost every statistical measure you can name… ahem… sorry about that, I wasn’t going to go there…
And there was even more rejoicing!
I will say, when the Predators solve a goalie… they solve a goalie. By cracking Scott Darling repeatedly, the Predators may have opened up a goaltending crisis in Chicago. I know… a lot of Blackhawk fans will try to slough off this as only one game, but a seed of doubt has been planted… heck even Joel Quinneville wouldn’t name his game six starter last night, while trying to absolve Darling, that’s OK… that what a coach does… but not naming him immediately does send a bad message.
One other thing about last night… You cannot overstate the impact of the return of Mike Fisher for the Preds. He banged, he crashed, he won faceoffs and assisted on a critical goal providing the kind of veteran leadership needed. His calm demeanor made a real difference for Nashville on the bench, his heart made a real difference on the ice.
I have to admit, the Dunkin Donuts coffee tastes a little better when it’s free, and there will be a lot of bleary eyed citizens of Smashville this morning as the late scheduling of this series has made it a bit difficult to keep the quality of your work at your day job up... umm …ahhh… I would imagine… not that it impacts me or anything…
The series is now 3-2. The first bite of the elephant is consumed… the next bite is bigger… game six tomorrow night at United Center.
Here’s the highlight‘s from nhl.com
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Random Notes
- A couple of streaks were broken last night. That was Chicago’s first game five loss after winning 10 consecutive game fives. That was the Predator’s first game five win when facing elimination.
- Why not call the Calder what it is… a second half trophy, at least that’s how the PHWA seems to treat it.
- Forsberg’s hat trick performance earned him First Star of the Night honors on nhl.com
- Of the hockey writers in Nashville, Jim Diamond always gets my attention… nice column on his Rinkside Report Blog today on Filip Forsberg.
- I will say, the three goal lead has been a dangerous one for the Predators in these playoffs so far, until last night. I really liked the Preds demeanor in the third period. I did not have an “oh crap… moment or felt that the team was in any danger of allowing the Hawks back in it.
- I mentioned it above, but Chicago’s goaltenders have put head coach Joel Quinneville in a bind. Crawford’s awful start doesn’t exactly inspire confidence to go back to him, but Darling showed he was human last night. Glad I don’t have that job.
- I think Ryan Dadoun put the quandary in sharp relief on NBC Sports PHT Blog
All things being equal, who gives Chicago the best chance to win in Game 6? Darling, who has done a great job in 2014-15, but also has just 18 regular season and playoff games under his belt, or Crawford, who has won the Stanley Cup and had a great campaign prior to his early playoff struggles?
- Full marks to Vancouver who held off elimination to Calgary with their win… back to the Saddledome on Saturday.
- What a comeback for Tampa Bay last night!! Down two, late in the third, at the Joe? That’s the turnaround they have been looking for.
- The Washington Capitals arrived last night with a dominating 5-1 win over the Islanders that didn’t feature a single point from Alex Ovechkin. This Capitals team is dangerous.
- Former Pred Hal Gill officially announced his retirement yesterday. Now there’s a player I would like to see transition to broadcast… he would be a natural.
- Two more elimination scenarios tonight after teams with the chance to win their series went 0-2 last night.
Three games tonight with national coverage options… - Ottawa @ Montreal – MTL leads 3-1 – 6pm CDT faceoff – CNBC, CBC - Pittsburgh @ New York Rangers – NYR leads 3-1 – 6pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, SN - Minnesota @ St. Louis – Series tied 2-2 – 8:30pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, SN360
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