I remember Barry Trotz saying this often, break the season into three game segments and look to get 4 out of every six points. It’s a wise mantra for a team trying to get out of a lukewarm stretch of play and one the Predators seem to be working on. Last night’s 2-1 win over the LA Kings was not really as close as the score indicated, the Predators owned long stretches of offensive zone time and generally played a solid game. There’s the first two points of this three game group.
Oh… and the team got a power play goal. No, that’s not a typo. A mid-first period man advantage turned into a rare power play goal combined with a rare first period goal. I wrote yesterday that the first goal was going to be key… and it was. Jonathan Quick was in net for the Kings and frankly, he was fighting the puck all night long. The power play goal was on a very pretty play and the unit whipped the puck around the horn as Roman Josi fed Filip Forsberg down low and he hit a wide open Kyle Turris with a cross ice pass and Turris buried it into a wide open net.
And there was much rejoicing…
An up and down rest of the period saw few chances and the first ended 1-0. The Predators wasted no time in going up 2-0 as Roman Josi put on the Superman cape :45 seconds into the second to put home the game winner.
The inevitable push from a proud LA team came in the third period, culminating in a fluke goal from Michael Amadio halfway through the third period, but Nashville immediately pushed back and regained control of the play, the Kings barely threatened after that and the Preds came away with a 2-1 win, a modest two game win streak and a return to first place in the Central Division.
The pregame drama with Viktor Arvidsson drew some changes in line combos last night, in an attempt to get some players going, head coach Peter Laviolette shook up the lines a bit, placing Kevin Fiala on the first line with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg. Arvidsson was placed on the second line with Kyle Turris… initial results were positive, but I anticipate JoFA being reunited fairly quickly.
Not a bad night’s work at all. Next up is a divisional game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon. Very limited tickets remain.
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The
Where We Stand section
Nashville is now owns first place in the Central Division, one point ahead the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg holds three games in hand over Nashville. The Preds lead St. Louis (3 GIH) by eight points, Dallas by 12, Minnesota by 15, Colorado, Arizona and Chicago trail by 16.
Nashville currently holds the 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
Impact Game Tonight – 6:30pm, COL @ CHI, MIN @ DET. 9pm – WPG @ VGK.
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Admirals are in Cleveland for two game set, game one is tonight… game two is Sunday.
- The Captain – Roman Josi has been a man possessed recently. Imposing his will on the opponent and dominating long stretches of the game.
- Miracle – Today is the 39th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.
- Trade Deadline – The Mark Stone watch continues and Ottawa scratched him, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel for last night’s 4-0 loss to New Jersey.
- The War for the Wild Card – The last wild card slot in the West is turning into a real donnybrook. Five teams are within 2 points of each other. Minnesota is at 62 points, Colorado, Arizona and Chicago are at 61 points and Vancouver is at 60.
- The Blues are no longer streaking – Their 11 game winning streak went foom last night in Dallas as the Stars take a 5-3 win, snapping their win streak… it will be interesting to see how the Blues react.
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