For the second time in the back-to-back against Minnesota, Ryan Johansen posts a filthy shootout goal to give the Predators a badly needed two points. Last night’s 5-4 win over the Wild in front of a raucous crowd at Bridgestone Arena saw a back and forth affair that is starting to approach playoff level intensity.
In a “Bah Gawd that’s Kevin Fiala’s music!” heel turn worthy of the WWE, Fiala returned to Bridgestone Arena for the first time since the trade and made it a memorable night, scoring two and bouncing one off the pipe in the shootout. Fiala was stirring the crap all night long, driving a humorous moment when Filip Forsberg and his former teammate got into it in front of the Preds net. A laughing Forsberg gave Fiala a face wash and they almost dropped the gloves… almost.
But Roman Josi’s post game quote said it all… "He can have the two goals, we'll take the two points." There was no report if the captain dropped the mic after that quote. However… don’t read too much into that quote… Josi said it with a laugh.
The NBCSN audience got a good one. The Preds got it started early when Craig Smith announced his return with authority as he pounced on a rebound and slammed it home from the slot… with a nice finishing move on the celly as he sheathed his stick. The lead lasted for about 14 minutes as Kevin Fiala got the first of his two, sending the teams to the room ties at one. Second verse, same as the first as Brian Boyle tipped a PK Subban blast to tally on the power play and put the Preds back up. That only lasted 4 minutes as Pontus Aberg tied it at 2… again sending the teams to the room tied.
A different story in the third period as Eric Fehr gave the Wild their only lead of the night 2:25 in to the third period… the Predators responded in :33 seconds as Josi simply imposed his will on the Wild, tying the game again and doing what leaders do… lead. On a side note, we are seeing the maturation of Roman Josi as a captain, his skills have always been evident as a player, but now you can see the team fire off of him… Josi wasn’t excited at the goal… he was mad, and his teammates responded.
Six minutes later Viktor Arvidsson got his 28th of the year off of a steal in the neutral zone… Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk is still looking for it. The Preds re-took the lead and were looking to seal up the win, but FIala had other plans, depositing his second of the night to tie it up again and send it to OT… where nothing was really settled.
So for the second straight game, the Preds and Wild went to the shootout. Nothing was settled in the first three rounds when Ryan Johansen came out for round 4. Cue the tape, because Johansen drove his second Wild goaltender to distraction by slowing down to a snails pace and tucking the puck around Dubnyk’s pad to put the Preds up in the shootout. Dubnyk (like Alex Stalock on Sunday) immediately jumped up and complained that Johansen’s goal was illegal. The officials disagreed (heck even the Wild coach agreed it was a good goal) and Ryan Donato had the chance to extend the shootout, but was stopped by Pekka Rinne and the Preds got the bonus point.
Nashville has three nights off, their next game is Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena, taking on that “Bunch of Jerks” the surprising Carolina Hurricanes.
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The
Where We Stand section
Nashville now holds the first spot in the Central Division leading the Winnipeg Jets by a single point, Winnipeg holds three games in hand over Nashville. The Preds lead St. Louis (3 GIH) by nine points, Dallas by 10 points and Minnesota by 11 points.
Nashville currently holds the 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
Impact Game Tonight – 9pm – STL @ ANA.
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Admirals got a big win last night, shooting down the Texas Stars 6-2. They are back in action Friday vs. Chicago.
- Old Home Day – The Minnesota Wild have deep Nashville connections, beyond FIala, Aberg, Anthony Bitetto, Brad Hunt, Devan Dubnyk and Ryan Suter. Their GM is ex-Preds AGM Paul Fenton, their owner is ex-Preds owner Craig Leipold
- Power play – The power play continues to improve and that improvement was finally rewarded with Brian Boyle’s tip of PK Subban’s blast from the point.
- 800 to Trotzy – Former Preds head coach Barry Trotz got his 800th career NHL win last night as the Islanders got back on track, beating Ottawa in a shootout. The win also puts the Isles back at the top of the Metro.
- Juggernaut – The Tampa Bay Lightning continues to roll, dismantling Winnipeg last night. Can anything stop the Bolts?
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