Well… if Pred Nation had trouble sleeping after the adrenaline rush of last night’s 5-2 Preds win over Vegas, it would be completely understandable. The Predators got started early with a 1-0 lead, took a solid counterpunch as the Golden Knights answered the Preds first goal with two of their own, then came out to take the game over with three unanswered goals in the second period. Say what you want about this Predators team, but you have to say that they are rapidly turning into an offensive machine.
Nashville got the scoring going early in the first with a beauty of a tip-in from Kyle Turris off a solid point shot from Ryan Ellis. They played very good two-way hockey in that first period and were victimized by an outstanding play from Mark Stone to tie the game, then a bad bounce off a really nice defensive effort from Dan Hamhuis ended up on Reilly Smiths stick and he buried it behind a sprawling Pekka Rinne.
That would be the end of Vegas scoring for the night.
The Predators exploded for three goals in a little over six minutes, getting a lunch bucket goal from Colton Sissons, who simply refused to give up on a play, batting home his second of the season by staying with his play in front of the net. Four and a half minutes later, Calle Jarnkrok hammered a wicked one-timer off a simply sick pass from Viktor Arvidsson to take the lead… Then Filip Forsberg tied a franchise record by posting a point in his sixth consecutive game, taking advantage of a rare miscue from Marc-Andre Fluery, potting his 5th goal of the young season.
All of a sudden, it’s 4-2 and the track meet that broke out settled down a bit as Vegas looked for an opening to get back into the game. That opening never came and four minutes into the third period, Nick Bonino put a cherry on it, netting his second of the season on the power play to give the Preds the final margin of victory.
So much for the Vegas flu.
Five different scorers, much improved defensive play, including some needed improvement from the third D pair and Pekka doing Pekka things… that combination is usually a recipe for success in Pred Nation. Nashville is in Arizona to close out the roadie with a tilt against the Coyotes tomorrow night.
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Random Notes – Presented by
- Filip Forsberg tied Marek Zidlicky’s franchise record six game scoring streak to open a season.
- It’s time to say it… Kyle Turris is back. The much-maligned center has bounced back from his year of discontent and has been outstanding in the role he is being given.
- Another odd stat, first from the Washington game where Pekka Rinne gave up his first goal to Alexander Ovechkin (yeah… I know) and then last night, which was Pekka’s first ever win over Vegas.
- Interesting fisticuffs between Roman Josi and Mark Stone at the end of the first period. I wonder how much the captain dropping his gloves pushed the Preds?
- OK… this is not a typo… but the Nashville Predators are leading the league in scoring… 28 goals in 6 games for a GF/GP of 4.67. Second is Colorado at 4.40… third is Pittsburgh… If this keeps up, we may need to ask the ops folks at Pepsi Center to add a third digit to the scoring strip for the November 7 game between the Preds and Av’s.
- Power play - Continues to click along, getting another PPG last night to keep their power play conversion rate at a respectable 22.7%.
- The lone undefeated team in the NHL is on Wednesday Night Hockey tonight… Colorado visits Pittsburgh… the Pens are bloodied, but unbowed as they are playing inspired hockey through the injuries to key players on this team.
- Tonight’s NHL schedule – 6pm – COL @ PIT – NBCSN, TOR @ WSH, DAL @ CBJ. 8:30pm – PHI @ EDM. 9pm – BUF @ ANA. 9:30pm – CAR @ SJS.
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SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I are now on Monday night’s this year. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast will begin the season at 8pm and will settle into our normal 7pm slot after Thanksgiving… Monday’s on 102.5 the Game.
Our sponsor list continues to grow. Not only are we welcoming back
Drs. Jane Bacon and Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and our good friend Carter Church, Your Mufreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group. And our newest sponsors…
Cool Springs Wines and Spirits! The largest spirit store in all of middle Tennessee! And La-Z-Boy Nashville! Three locations, locally owned and operated, check out La-Z-Boy in Mufreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!
The new season promises to be the best yet!
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