After last night’s disheartening 3-2 loss to Dallas, the Nashville Predators have some soul searching to do. Look, I am not pushing the panic button here, there were some very good things that came out of last night’s game one loss, however… after dominating the first period, outhustling, outhitting, outshooting the Stars… then?
Pfffft.
The team came out flat for the next 30 minutes of play, hung their goaltender out to dry and didn’t seem to wake up until they were down two. Pekka Rinne was stellar between the pipes, but breakdowns and a failure to clear the crease cost this team badly last night… that… and the execution on the power play. I am waiting for that bounce to go the Preds way in order to get the power play on track, they are generating chances… now they need to finish.
PK Subban halved the lead with a blast from the high slot with six or so minutes to go, but at that point, it was too late. A mad scramble to tie the game came up short and the Preds saw home ice advantage slip away… not that Nashville has been all that scary on home ice in the last two playoff seasons. The Predators are 3-5 in their last eight home playoff games.
It is almost inexplicable… this team hasn’t been able to really take advantage of the insanity of Bridgestone Arena lately. The building was as loud as I have ever heard it last night and the contrast of the crowd leaving in almost complete silence was jarring.
A visibly frustrated head coach Peter Laviolette used a variation of the word “quick” multiple times in his postgame presser, he also mentioned “execution” a few times and he was clearly in no mood for any talk of “moral victories.” I would not want to have faced his wrath as his eyes were blazing in his presser…
That message needs to be heard clearly and felt keenly inside the room. Game 2 is Saturday night in Smashville.
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The
Playoff Status section
The Eastern Conference
(1) Tampa Bay vs (WC2) Columbus – CBJ Leads 1-0 – Game 2, tomorrow
(2) Boston vs. (3) Toronto – Game 1, Tonight
(1) Washington vs. (WC1) Carolina – Game 1, Tonight
(2) NY Islanders vs (3) Pittsburgh – NYI lead 1-0 – Game 2 - Tomorrow
The Western Conference
(1) Calgary vs (WC2) Colorado – Game 1 - Tonight
(2) San Jose vs (3) Vegas – SJS lead 1-0 – Game 2 – Tomorrow
(1) Nashville vs. (WC1) Dallas – DAL leads 1-0 – Game 2 - Saturday
(2) Winnipeg vs. (3) St. Louis – STL leads 1-1 – Game 2 – Tomorrow
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