Back from a weekend break, decided to step away from the day job, blogging and everything else to rest and recharge. A bit of a tough week for Pred Nation as the eastern roadie only produced 3 points. Even good teams experience rough patches, and once again, the Predators bounced back nicely, stopping a two game slide at two.
Thursday night’s loss to the Islanders was not entirely unexpected, Saturday’s loss to the Flyers was a bit shocking and frankly… the Predators were lucky to get a point out of it… they were out worked and outplayed and it was only a lack of finish and a couple of outstanding Pekka Rinne saves that prevented Philly from winning it in regulation.
Yesterday’s shootout win over Buffalo was the kind of game that good teams win. Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth was simply outstanding and deserved the game’s first star. Nashville just kept on coming, firing shot after shot… 79 total shot attempts in the game, 38 on net and Neuvirth was up to the test, only giving up a power play goal that he had no play on at all in the third period.
Lost in Neuvirth’s play was the play of Carter Hutton. The sometimes maligned Nashville backup had an outstanding game, giving up one late in the second on yet another breakaway from Tyler Ennis, who Hutton stopped earlier in the game. Hutton showed his mettle in the shootout, stopping all but Ennis’ stunning hash mark high slap shot. Filip Forsberg got the game winner in the fourth round… his third shootout winning goal this season, and Nashville was able to return home on a winning note.
The Predators are back in Smashville to close out February with visits from Colorado on Tuesday, Minnesota on Thursday and Detroit on Saturday afternoon.
Here are your highlights courtesy of nhl.com…
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 2/20 – Nashville maintains a six point lead in the President’s Trophy race over both Anaheim and Montreal. The Habs do have a game in hand over the Preds and Ducks. St. Louis, the Islanders and Tampa Bay trail by seven points. The Blues have a game in hand on Nashville, the Predators have a game in hand over the Islanders and two over Tampa.
- The Western Wild Card – Winnipeg (61 games played) remains in the first wild card slot with 71 points. The second slot is currently owned by the Minnesota Wild (59) with 69 points. Los Angeles (58), Calgary (59) and San Jose (61) all have 68 points, the Kings hold third in the Pacific, the other two trail the last wild card by one point. Dallas (60) and Colorado (60) are six points back of the last slot.
- Nashville is the first team to 40 wins in the NHL this season and broke a franchise record for hitting 40 in 60 games.
- Cody Franson got his first point in his second stint with the team and Mike Santorelli scored in the shootout as recent acquisitions are starting to make an impact.
- I wonder what Michal Neuvirth could do with some help… he is 1-3-2 so far this month, with a .944 save percentage and a 1.93 GAA. (s/t to James O’Brien at PHT for that stat)
- The Chicago Blackhawks were supposed to get well during their season long eight game homestand… they close it out tomorrow against Florida… their record on the homestand? 2-2-3. The Blackhawks currently stand 12 points back of Nashville in the Central.
- Since January 1, the Blackhawks are 10-10-3. (another s/t to James O’Brien at PHT for that one as well)
- The biggest loss last night for Chicago could be Johnny Oduya, who was injured in last night’s game… no word on duration, but if it is more than a few games, it could be trouble for the Hawks.
- A lot of “where were you when… going on yesterday regarding the 35th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice… … I certainly know where I was 35 years ago today… in bed recovering from a monster hangover!
- Anaheim placed Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers over the weekend.
- San Jose did a very nice job hosting the Stadium Series game Saturday night… and kept the tradition of home teams losing. The Sharks are in trouble, 3-6-1 over the last ten have seen them tumble out of a playoff spot with all of the teams they are battling with holding at least two games in hand.
- It was Hockey Day in America yesterday… not that you would know it from the local NBC affiliate. They pre-empted the first half hour of the Flyers/Caps game for a… wait for it… kids show. Shame on you WSMV… there is no reasonable excuse for it… NONE.
- Two games in the NHL today – Coyotes @ Devils, Red Wings @ Ducks.
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