A 4-3 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets puts the Nashville Predators one point out of a playoff spot. Another one of those frustrating, wonderful nights at Bridgestone Arena. Smashville was in full effect, the Jackets (as John Tortorella teams do) never quit working, the Preds blew a 2-0 lead, came back from a 3-2 deficit and finally got the extra point in an eight round shootout.
Yup... another typical night at 501 Broadway.
The Predators got off to the start they wanted, Ryan Johansen scored :33 seconds in, Mikeal Granlind made it 2-0 before the first intermission. To a team listing nine players on IR and two more injuries on the scratch list, that should've been enough. But as I wrote earlier, Tortorella teams simply don't quit. The Jackets came out on fire in the second period and dominated play for most of the period, scoring three goals and looking like they were going to run away with the game, especially considering that Nashville played last night and lost a heartbreaker in overtime... but then Colton Sissons bunted home a pass from Filip Forsberg to tie the game with :63 seconds to go in the period.
The teams were up and down for the third, trading chances and solid goaltending. Five minutes of 3-on-3 didn't solve it so it was off t the shootout... it took eight rounds before Rocco Grimaldi sewed up the extra point and sent Pred Nation home happy with free Big Macs and Frosty's.
Give Columbus full marks, with a team filled with AHL players, they never gave up.
The Predators get the home stand off to a solid start, Ottawa is in on Tuesday night. Between then and now... the trade deadline looms.
At 2pm tomorrow, the trade deadline will pass and no one has a clue what David Poile has in mind. I made a case in my blog yesterday for standing pat. Getting Ryan Ellis back is a huge add to the team. Keeping Granlund and Smith are probably better options than whoever may be available out there.
The Predators did add defensive depth in Milwaukee yesterday, trading Mikka Salomaki to Toronto for Ben Harpur, Harpur has a little over 100 games in the NHL but has been an AHL'er in the Leafs organization.
Those are the kind of moves I would anticipate coming from Nashville, however... never underestimate David Poile's capability to make the shocking trade.
Stay tuned...
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Where They Stand – a daily look at where the Predators are in the playoff race.
As play opens on 2/23/2020, the Nashville Predators are in the 5 spot in the Central and the 9 spot in the Western Conference, one point behind Winnipeg and two points behind Arizona. They have two games in hand over the Jets and four games in hand over the Coyotes. The Preds trail Dallas by eight points for third in the Central. The Predators chances for making the playoffs are at around the 56% mark.
Impact games today – WPG @ BUF, CHI @ DAL, CGY @ DET, STL @ MIN.
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Random Notes – Presented by
- Congratulations to Alex Ovechkin on scoring his 700th goal last night.
- The Predators continue on the four out of every six available points pace they need to ensure a playoff spot come April.
- What a story in Toronto last night as the emergency backup goaltender was called into service. David Ayers, a zamboni driver was pressed into duty after both Carolina goalies were hurt and set an NHL record for the oldest goaltender in NHL history to record a win in his debut game.
- This trade deadline feels different, at least in Nashville. The prices have been high... higher than makes me (as an amateur GM) comfortable.
- Interesting line combinations from John Hynes last night... he appears to be pulling every string he can find to help get this team on track.
- Today’s games – Noon – PIT @ WSH. 3pm – CHI @ DAL, WPG @ BUF. 4pm - SJS @ NYI. 6pm – CGY @ DET. 6:30pm – STL @ MIN. 9pm – VGK @ ANA, EDM @ LAK.
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