Paul McCann: Game Four - Command or Toss-Up?

The cliche is that you have to withstand the first 10 minutes of a game in a hostile environment, but given the way the last game went, I'd say they need to probably expand that to the first, second and third period.

I expect Dallas to come out flying, smothering and physical. It's not a secret that the Preds are undisciplined and will take really dumb penalties if given a chance, so their best bet is to try and get as many PP's as possible. If I were them, I'd be extra aggressive because the Preds power play DOES NOT SCARE ANYONE.

For the Preds, hold on. Peks will need to be the goalie he was last game. The defense has been suspect all year, but now is the time for all good defensemen to come to the aid of their team. Play it tight, be patient and wait for your opportunities, but then TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. If only they had somewhat effective PP.

This game can go either way. I could see a Dallas blowout or a slim Preds OT win. But I'm a homer, so Preds win.

Disagree on a couple of points here. Game 2 was one of the best games I've seen the Preds play all year, they just couldn't score, and you have to credit the Stars Defense for that. They controlled the puck for most of that game, and while I didn't bother to look up the exact numbers, the Stars only had a handful of shots that didn't come via the powerplay. Offensive pressure, puck control, and defensive wise, I think that's about as good as you can expect this current version of the Preds to play. You're not going to score five of six goals on this Stars team unless they're having an off night. I wouldn't call the Stars PP meh either, it's quite frankly were they're getting most of their chances. Preds PK has thankfully been strong, though they have had a couple where they kind of stood around and let the Stars play shooting gallery against Pekka. Overall though, I wish the Preds would take the defensive mentality they've had on the PK this series and apply it to the rest of the game. They did it during Game 2, Game 3 not so much.

A desperate Stars team could mean good things for the Preds tonight if they stay disciplined and Pekka is on his game again. It's hard to commit to a that tight defensive style when you're back is against wall, and that might open up some scoring chances for the Preds. It's cliche but this one game where scoring the first goal or even two is going to be extremely important. They want the Stars chasing them in this game... if they can do that, they should win tonight and take over the series. If they get off to one of their infamous slow stars, and Dallas goes up a couple goals early, this series is going back to Nashville tied. Dallas is not a team you want to put in a position where they can just rear back and play defense all night.

Fun night of hockey last night! Congrats to both Trotzy and Columbus. Always like to see Trotz when as long as it's not against the Preds. He's such an underappreciated coach. Not sure if Columbus just slayed the beast, or if they've become the new nightmare team of the Eastern conference.

At least in game 3, the Preds showed some desperation - blocking shots at a rate I cannot remember seeing the past, and killing penalties very well. I know what people mean saying the Stars "outplayed" the Preds. By all objective offensive measures, they did. The Preds certainly got outplayed by the Stars' skaters as a whole - the fancy stats leave no doubt about that. There were several players on the Preds team that did not get outplayed - most notably, the goaltender. That's why they won the game - the Preds badly outplayed the Stars in goal. In the playoffs, the goaltender is often the most important player on the ice. Just ask the Sharks where mediocre goaltending has got them?

Now, the offense needs to control the game better & the defense needs to play better in the neutral zone and back end. No doubt. Rinne can't play all-world and bail them out of every game. If the Turris line gets cranked up, that is where this team could do some damage (especially against Dallas). I don't have a lot of confidence in that happening - but it's possible. Of course, it would be nice to see the first line impose its will as well - but may not see that till game 5 with the first change on the road.

One thing I have to say from this series - some of these young Dmen are impressive. Heiskanen is a stud. The kid is 19 and can flat play. The Stars have a goldmine there. Fabbro is straight out of college - but playing really well in some tough situations for the Preds.

RINE, RINE.....You Suck, You Suck, It's all your fault, It's all your fault!

Can't wait for Paul's blabbering excuses......Of course he won't credit Dallas...He'll come up with some excuse....game time was too early, crowd was too noisy, ice surface was tilted, it was too humid, the lights were too bright....but we'll get them next game because the cup starved fans in Nashville will "bring it"....plus the fans can smash a car....yup, that will do it!

RINE, RINE.....You Suck, You Suck, It's all your fault, It's all your fault!

Can't wait for Paul's blabbering excuses......Of course he won't credit Dallas...He'll come up with some excuse....game time was too early, crowd was too noisy, ice surface was tilted, it was too humid, the lights were too bright....but we'll get them next game because the cup starved fans in Nashville will "bring it"....plus the fans can smash a car....yup, that will do it!
- jockitch

games not over yet

Rinne the sieve just shat the blue paint!
Yoo hoo Rash I told you that your boy is pathetic
Trashville...

Go Stars Go!!!

Rinne the sieve just shat the blue paint!
Yoo hoo Rash I told you that your boy is pathetic
Trashville...

Go Stars Go!!!
- BGKarras

games not over yet two periods to go... we shall see

games not over yet two periods to go... we shall see
- PREDX1

Very true and stranger things have happened before. This Preds team is not the same team the last couple of years. Something is not clicking, I could be wrong but they don't have the swagger they used to.

games not over yet two periods to go... we shall see
- PREDX1

Well that 5th goal pretty much puts this game out of reach. Stars are all over the Preds...

Paper SaberTooth Tigers...Dallas wants it more than we do...and look, Game 2 was OT, could’ve easily gone the other way. Same for Game 3, a nail biter...A case could be made Dallas could be clinching tonight. Special teams, we can’t stay outta the box and can’t score when they are in the box. If that isn’t rectified in Game 5, expect more of the same from the Stars.

Paper SaberTooth Tigers...Dallas wants it more than we do...and look, Game 2 was OT, could’ve easily gone the other way. Same for Game 3, a nail biter...A case could be made Dallas could be clinching tonight. Special teams, we can’t stay outta the box and can’t score when they are in the box. If that isn’t rectified in Game 5, expect more of the same from the Stars.
- jlhtn18

What is going on with this team? Is it locker room issues? We need Housley back, sit Ekholm, he has been a disaster this series.... Lavy needs to chew this team out....

games not over yet two periods to go... we shall see
- PREDX1

Um....yeah it's over.....

Here is some friendly advice....instead of watching the Preds lose on Saturday, your time would be better spent watching Animal House....then you'll better understand the "Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor" line!

I know....it's not their fault.....how about some credit to Dallas....maybe from you because blabbering Paul won't....

A suggestion...the first line of every blog from Babbering Paul should read as follows...."Approved by the Nashville Predators Management Team".....kind of like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval!

Yeah its over now, but at least I watched it. Stop being a negative nancy for gawds sake. You sound like the kid who wasnt picked first and gets mad and takes his ball home.
As for animal house, I've got better things to do than attempt to relate to old people movies.

Um....yeah it's over.....

Here is some friendly advice....instead of watching the Preds lose on Saturday, your time would be better spent watching Animal House....then you'll better understand the "Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor" line!

I know....it's not their fault.....how about some credit to Dallas....maybe from you because blabbering Paul won't....

A suggestion...the first line of every blog from Babbering Paul should read as follows...."Approved by the Nashville Predators Management Team".....kind of like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval!
- jockitch

I would love to know what you would have said had the Preds pulled their collective heads out of their a s s e s and won.....

Um....yeah it's over.....

Here is some friendly advice....instead of watching the Preds lose on Saturday, your time would be better spent watching Animal House....then you'll better understand the "Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor" line!

I know....it's not their fault.....how about some credit to Dallas....maybe from you because blabbering Paul won't....

A suggestion...the first line of every blog from Babbering Paul should read as follows...."Approved by the Nashville Predators Management Team".....kind of like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval!
- jockitch

I would love to know what you would have said had the Preds pulled their collective heads out of their a s s e s and won.....
- PREDX1

That would have been embarrassing & I'd be eating crow....BUT, knowing they were down 4-0 and knowing their goaltending is greatly overrated, I felt pretty good about Dallas's chances...at 5-0....it was lights out!

Now, can Nashville win this series....absolutely....the two teams are fairly even across the board. Is Nashville coming out of the west....Hell No!.....not good enough.

Honestly, I am salivating about the crap Paul is probably authoring right now and readying it for the Preds Management review....or does he revert to his past and hide until the morning of game 5? Only time will tell....

They're soft... I don't want to say gutless, but their soft. Can't hold on to the puck when they're pressured, and get pushed around too easily. I give full credit to Dallas for the way they're playing. Preds struggle to score consistently anyway, and now they got to try to do it when there's four or five green jersey's in their face every time they carry the puck into the zone. I said it earlier this morning, you can't allow Dallas the opportunity to rear back and play defense all night. They played right into the Stars hands.

Glad I didn't watch. At this point, you can draw a clear line from the defensive team Trotz established to the dumpster fire we have now. It's coaching. We have the talent.

Time to think about firing Lavy.

And don't feed the trolls. Jeez.

I agree with some others - there is some kind of chemistry issue with this team. The parts are there. Rinne has his bad moments, but generally, he has been solid - often outstanding. And Saros is as good a backup as there is in the league. The first & third lines are solid. The second line is at least 2/3 solid. The first two D-pairs are plenty skilled. And even Fabbro/Hamhuis are more than adequate on the 3rd pair. A team with these pieces may not sweep every round, but should be the better team on the ice almost every game.

But with a PP this bad, and inconsistent efforts from night to night - someone has to be responsible. Is it the coaching staff? Where else can you look or point the finger? I don't dislike Lavy - but perhaps there is a reason he burns out after 4-5 years most places he's been. He's only the 2nd coach in team history - so perhaps a change is warranted.

The team is not as bad as the one that lost 5-1 last night. Give full credit to the Stars for seizing the momentum early and making the Preds pay for their mistakes. That was a surgical dismantling & they were really good. But even when the Stars play their best - they are not 4 goals better than this team on paper. Something is not right in that room. It may not be over yet, but it doesn't feel like this team is going to get it together in time to make a run this year. The window doesn't stay open forever. Will be interesting to see what moves get made in the offseason. That might tell the story of what isn't quite right in the room.

If they lose the next two games, Poile will have to do something drastic. Two years in a row with home ice and two series losses. I mean it is tied, but just like the feeling most had down the stretch, it's not good.

If they lose the next two games, Poile will have to do something drastic. Two years in a row with home ice and two series losses. I mean it is tied, but just like the feeling most had down the stretch, it's not good.
- FoxMulder

I agree, I hate to say it but Lavy or at least his coaching assistants has to go. I like Lavy he has produced a good product but losing Housley and picking up these new guys was a mistake.

Also, is there something going on in the locker room?? Has anyone heard any rumors?

Series is tied and if we win both home games we will be ok. I think we win in 6.

Next round we get swept 4-1

I agree, I hate to say it but Lavy or at least his coaching assistants has to go. I like Lavy he has produced a good product but losing Housley and picking up these new guys was a mistake.

Also, is there something going on in the locker room?? Has anyone heard any rumors?

Series is tied and if we win both home games we will be ok. I think we win in 6.

Next round we get swept 4-1
- PREDX1

I don't know about the locker room, but wouldn't doubt it. But you'd think a leader would step up. So far I haven't heard about any or a players only meeting, etc.

I don't think they recover from this. It's not like they've been lights out at home (which I thought I would never say).

I agree, I hate to say it but Lavy or at least his coaching assistants has to go. I like Lavy he has produced a good product but losing Housley and picking up these new guys was a mistake.

Also, is there something going on in the locker room?? Has anyone heard any rumors?

Series is tied and if we win both home games we will be ok. I think we win in 6.

Next round we get swept 4-1
- PREDX1

Everyone remember when Lavy put on the bulls head mask last fall?? Was that November? Maybe late October? If I recall there was some type of bet with the players, he lost and paid up. Further, if I recall, the team was so loose and cohesive then, playing at a exceptional clip.

Well, come mid-April, there doesn't seem to be that cohesiveness, and hasn't been for a longtime, they seem tight to disinterested...and seemed to not give a care falling down 4-0 last night, like it was a mid January tilt instead of Game 4 of a playoff series.

Maybe Lavy needs to find that mask and see if can get the team to lighten up a bit and have some fun out there.

Where's Waldo???? Must be in hiding.....

Where's Waldo???? Must be in hiding.....
- jockitch

He's too scared to come out. Just can't wait to see Dallas put an end to Trashville's hopes of a Stanley Cup. Now that is priceless!!