Series Even at 2 as Predators Outworked and Outplayed in 4-1 Loss

The Nashville Predators returned to Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead and control of their series with the Anaheim Ducks.

By Thursday night, they had pissed it away.

For the second straight game, the Predators were outworked, lost puck battles, and were stymied in all aspects of their game by the Ducks, losing 4-1 and making it a 3 game series with the Ducks in total control.

The Predators gave up the slot all night and the Ducks took advantage. Ryan Getzlaf, Nate Thompson, Jamie McGinn, and Andrew Cogliano all scored from prime scoring areas as the Predators defense hung Pekka Rinne out to dry.

Frederick Andersen had a busier night than Tuesday, but turned away all but a close in scoring chance from Mike Fisher.

Some observations:

• The Predators have been outworked all over the ice in these last 2 games. The Ducks have made a commitment to forecheck aggressively and attack the puck, and the Predators look completely confused and helpless against the pressure by the Ducks. It is not like they haven't seen this before, but the Predators have been totally inept in handling the pressure.
• Speaking of inept, the power play was 0-6. The Predators have only 1 power play goal in 19 attempts in this series. I know the Ducks have the top rated penalty kill, but the Predators have looked particularly bad. If, and that is a big if, they get in the zone, the Ducks have done a good job of attacking the puck and taking away shooting lanes. It doesn't help the Predators that they usually fail to get net front presence and take away the eyes of Andersen. This unit has to get going or it will continue to bite the Predators in the butt.
• The failure to keep the Ducks out of the slot is disappointing and it will cost the Predators this series. Where the Predators can't get to the slot, the Ducks, by contrast, have had free rein from in close. This has to get cleaned up quickly or the series will be over in 6.
• Mike Ribeiro has been awful. A non-factor in this series, he has contributed nothing to the play of the team in any zone. This is not a time to be a passenger, but Ribeiro has been nothing but excess baggage. 
• At least the Predators broke their scoring drought. Until Fisher's goal, the Predators had not scored a goal in 5 periods.
• The Ducks have the number one power play in the League, and the Predators penalty killers have played their tails off. They killed off all 5 Ducks power plays tonight.

Let's face it, the Ducks have exerted their will on the Predators, and the good guys haven't matched the intensity and effort of their opponent.

Unless they do, this series is over in 6 games.

The next test comes Saturday in Anaheim. We will find out what kind of character this team has.

Hopefully, it will be a positive response.

My three stars:

1. Frederick Andersen

2. Nate Thompson

3. Mike Fisher

Predators Look Uninspired in 4-1 loss to the Sabres

The Nashville Predators returned to the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena after a grueling 5 game road trip that saw the team go 1-3-1. Returning home to face the Buffalo Sabres, the Predators looked to build some positive momentum and get their game righted.

They squandered that opportunity by dropping a 4-1 decision to the Sabres in a game that was highlighted by uninspired play by the Predators.

Mike Fisher staked the Predators to a 1-0 lead on the power play off a beautiful pass from James Neal. Neal's pass was backwards and through his legs to Fisher, who was wide open at the side of the net. Fisher's wrist shot beat Chad Johnson cleanly for his second goal in as many games.

Juuse Saros got the start, his first in the NHL, as Carter Hutton was injured and unable to play. Saros kept the Sabres off the board in the first period and the Predators went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

The Predators looked to have taken a 2-0 lead, but an awfully weak goaltender interference call against Viktor Arvidsson negated a goal.

Arvidsson would figure prominently in the game as he was called for a 5 minute major for cross checking and a game misconduct later in the second. On the ensuing power play, Jamie McGinn and Sam Reinhart would score to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead going into the third.

Reinhart would tally again  and Ryan O'Reilly would score to make it 4-1. The Predators never seriously threatened Johnson after Fisher's goal and they would flop on home ice, continuing their trend of poor play that has seen the slump grow worrisome to Predator fans.

Some observations:

• Juuse Saros was generally good in net, although the third goal he let in was a bit soft. it appeared that it was kicked in off his skate on a shot that was stoppable. Otherwise, Saros looked positionally sound and tracked the puck well. 
• The goaltender interference call against Arvidsson was weak and embarrassing for the League. if a play is driving the net and shoved into the goaltender, which Arvidsson was, then goaltender interference, in my opinion, cannot be called. That was a huge momentum swing in this game.
• I like Arvidsson, but has to get stronger if he is going to stick in the NHL. He gets knocked off the puck easily and loses a lot of puck battles. This is a man's league and Arvidsson is going to have to get man strong if he is going to make it in this League.
• The cross check call against Arvidsson really hurt the momentum of the team. That is a penalty that cannot happen, no matter how heated the play is at the moment.
• The Predators are playing, at best, some very average hockey right now. The forwards are not creating and the offense is very predictable. The puck is more often than not going back to the point and a lot of shots are not getting through. When shots do get through, there is no traffic in front of the net. Until the offense gets more energized and less predictable, the results are going to be predictable, and they will not be good. 
• The absence of several key forwards, notably Colin Wilson and including Filip Forsberg and Craig Smith, have hurt this team. The Predators are not getting consistent production out of these key players and it has hurt the offensive output. Until these guys start producing consistently, this team will continue to struggle.
• Craig Smith skated in his 300th game.
• Back to Arvidsson for a moment. he cross checked Carlo Calaiacovo and was given the major and game misconduct. It was reported that Calaiacovo had a dented trachea after the game. It remains to be seen if Arvidsson will have a hearing with the NHL for this hit.
• Mike Fisher is one of the few Predators that has brought it recently. He now has a goal in three straight games.
• Roman Josi led the Predators in TOI with 25:36.

The Predators are a team that is struggling right now. The are playing predictable hockey, and with the exception of a few games in this slump, have been average at best.

Until that turns around and the Predators elevate their game, the struggles will continue.

My three stars:

1. Sam Reinhart

2. Chad Johnson

3. Mike Fisher

Predators Potent Offense Pours in 6 Goals Against the Avalanche

The Nashville Predators continued their road trip with a stop in Denver for their second meeting of the season against the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators looked to continue their new found scoring prowess against an Avalanche team that possessed and explosive offense of their own.

Carter Hutton got the start for the Predators, while the Avalanche had Semyon Varlamov in net.

The Predators had to wonder if this was going to be one of those games where they were snake bitten as they hit three posts early in the first period.

The Predators finally broke through at 13:12 of the period as Viktor Stalberg forced a turnover off his forecheck and took a pass from behind the net from Colin Wilson and buried the shot past Varlamov for his first goal of the season.

The Avs answered back at 15:23 off a 2 on 1 break. P.A. Parenteau took a pass from Matt Duchene and beat Hutton, who had no chance on the shot. The play was set up when Seth Jones took the puck deep in the offensive zone and had his pass intercepted, starting the break for the Avs.

The Avs continued the trend of cheap shots as Jamie McGinn left his feet and boarded Seth Jones. Jones left the game and went to the locker room after the dirty hit.

On the ensuing power play, Colin Wilson dug the puck out from the side of the net and got it to Craig Smith. Smith roofed the shot over the shoulder of Varlamov and under the crossbar to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 19:07 of the period.

Fortunately for the Predators, Jones was able to return to the game.

At the end of the first period, the Predators held a 2-1 lead and out shot the avalanche 10-9.

The Avs tied the game at 2 at 2:15 of the second period off a 3 on 2 rush. Ryan O'Reilly took a drop pass from P.A. Parenteau and fired a shot over the shoulder of Hutton to knot the game.

Just 59 seconds later, Paul Gaustad re-directed a Filip Forsberg shot to give the Predators a 3-2 lead at 3:14. Gaustad was right in front of Varlamov creating havoc and was able to get the shaft of his stick on the shot to deflect it.

The Predators extended their lead to 4-2 on the power play as Ryan Ellis faked a shot from the point and found Colin Wilson breaking in on the weak side with a perfect pass. Wilson banged the puck into the open net at 6:47 for his second goal of the year. Avery heads up play by both Ellis and Wilson.

The Avs made it 4-3 at 13:37 as Paul Stastny drove the slot and took a pass from Jamie McGinn and his wrist shot beat Hutton on the stick side.

The Predators survived a too many men on the ice penalty and exited the second period with the 4-3 lead. Shots were 9 apiece in the second.

Colorado tied the game at 4 at 4:23 as the Predators turned the puck over at the offensive blue line as fillip Forsberg lost the puck. Matt Duchene picked up the loose puck and blew into the offensive zone. Duchene split Kevin Klein and Roman Josi and beat Hutton over his shoulder.

See a trend here? The Predators gave up too many goals on odd man rushes or breakaways to this point in the game.

The Predators answered back as Viktor Stalberg stole the puck in the offensive zone and found Colin Wilson streaking toward the net. Wilson beat Varlamov with a sweet backhand to give the Predators a 5-4 lead at 7:34 of the third period.

As the period wound down, the Avs pulled Varlamov for the extra attacker. The Predators controlled the puck in the defensive zone and David Legwand got the puck to Gabriel Bourque in the neutral zone. Bourque skated in a fired the puck into the empty net for a 6-4 lead at 19:52 to seal the win.

Some observations:

• This team is beginning to play with confidence in the offensive zone. In previous seasons, this team has appeared to be unwilling to shoot the puck. This group is doing a good job of working for the open shot and more importantly taking the shot. And they have been very efficient in the offensive zone, which is a pleasant surprise.

• Viktor Stalberg had his best game as a Predator. He was active in the offensive zone, picking up a goal and an assist and played a solid defensive game as well. Hopefully, this gives him confidence and his game begins to consistently produce.

• The Predators were guilty of some very sloppy play. They gave the Avs all their goals off transitions and breakaways. Credit the Avs- they are talented and attack in waves, but the Predators are going to have to play better defense and limit turnovers.

• Who would have thought this team could- or would- be this offensively productive? In the first 3 games of this road trip, the Predators have scored 14 goals. Certainly not "offensively challenged" against some very good teams to begin this roadie.

• The Predators were without Mike Fisher, who hurt his foot in the previous game against L.A. The team also announced that Pekka Rinne has an e-coli infection in his hip and will miss 6-8 weeks instead of the 4 weeks originally estimated.

This was a solid win against one of the best teams in the NHL in this young season. More importantly, the Predators have shown some resiliency and fight by not wilting in the face of pressure from a very good opponent.

This team is beginning to show their potential and it looks promising.

They have to consistently build on that potential.

My three stars:

1. Colin Wilson

2. Viktor Stalberg

3. Matt Duchene

Predators Offensive Outburst Not Enough, Fall to Avalanche 6-5

The Nashville Predators faced off against the Colorado Avalanche in a matinee matchup in the Mile High City. The Predators were looking to continue their strong offensive effort of late, and that effort would be buttressed by the return of Patric Hornqvist who was back in the line up after missing several weeks with a knee injury.

Chris Mason got the start for the Predators while the Avalanche has Semyon Varlamov in net.

The Avalanche have struggled, and it was important for the Predators to get off to a strong start and take the Avs out of the game early.

That strong start did not materialize as the Avalanche got on the board first with a strange goal. Aaron Palushaj shot the puck off the end board from inside the Predators blue line. The puck caromed back at Mason and hist his left pad. When Mason realized that the puck was in his skates, he tried to squeeze his pads together and in the process kicked the puck into the net at 3:43 of the first period.

The Avalanche made it 2-0 on the power play as Tyson Barrie took a shot from the blue line that trickled through a screened Mason's pads at 9:30 of the first.

The Predators continued to stick to their formula of getting shots and traffic to net, and it paid off as the Predators tallied on the power play. Sergei Kostitsyn gathered in a rebound of a Colin Wilson shot that hit Craig Smith in front of the net and put the puck top shelf over a prone Varlamov to make it 2-1 at 17:20 of the first period.

The Predators ended the first period on a power play, and would nearly tie the game on a rebound attempt by Roman Josi. Varlamov made the stop, but the Predators would have 1:27 of power play time to begin the second period.

The Predators out shot the Avalanche 9-8 in the first period.

There had already been one strange goal in the contest for the Avalanche, but they got a gift goal on an absolutely horribly blown goal by the officials. Matt Duchene took a pass and was 3 feet offside in the Predators zone. Duchene skated in when the the defense relaxed and roofed a shot over Mason's should. Inexplicably the linesmen and the refs said they didn't see the blatant offside and gave the goal to the Avs to make it 3-1 at 3:18 of the second period.

The Predators cut the deficit to 3-2 as Shea Weber pinched down from the blue line and took a pass from Sergei Kostitsyn and took a shot that was tipped by Mike Fisher that beat Varlamov 5 hole for his thirdd goal of the season at 10:16.

That lead lasted all of 50 seconds as the Predators got caught in a bad change and lost Chuck Kobesew in the high slot. He beat Mason high glove side to make it 4-2 Avs at 11:06.

Once again, the Predators cut the lead to 1 as Marty Erat found Colin Wilson cruising doen the slot and hit him with a perfect pass. Wilson made a great fake and beat Varlamov 5 hole off the backhand at 13:17

The Predators could not seem to enjoy their success as Paul Stastny got free at the side of the net and had 3 whacks at the puck before finally putting the puck past Mason to make it 5-3 at13:33

The Avs continued to do damage to the Predators as on the ensuing face off from center ice, the puck went deep and Shea Weber retrieved it in the corner. Matt Duchene stole the puck and found Jamie McGinn, who blistered a shot over Mason's shoulder just 13 seconds after the previous Avalanche tally.

With the score 6-3, that was all for Chris Mason and Pekka Rinne entered the game.

Jonathan Blum made it 6-4 as his shot from the blue line hit the skate of Jan Heida and re-directed past Varlamov at 19:10 of the second period.

7 goals in the second period, 4 for the Avs and 3 for the Preds.

Wild game? Certainly a strange one.

The Avs held a 23-21 shot advantage through 2 periods, and the way this game has gone, it was still a wide open contest. Could the Predators get 3 goals in the third? The way this game was going, anything was possible.

Desperate to get back in the game, the Predators pressed and created some great chances in the third Period. Varlamov stopped Patric Hornqvist on a breakaway, and Varly came up with some big saves as the Predators worked the puck to get quality shots from in close.

It took most of the Period, but the Predators scored at 18:42 with Rinne on the bench and the extra attacker on the ice. Patric Hornqvist tried a wraparound and the rebound came out to Shea Weber just inside the face off circle. Weber deposited the puck just under the crossbar to make it 6-5.

The Avalanche held off the final flurry from the Predators and escaped with the victory.

The Predators out shot the Avs 17-5 in the third period and 38-28 for the game.

Some observations:

• The Predators were the victims of an unfortunate bounce and a horrible call. Even with that, they battled and did not back down. This is a strong indication of the drive and character of this team, which has grown significantly from some early season games where their compete level was lacking.

• It was good to see the offense get pucks and traffic to the net. This is how this team has to score, and they have embraced that ethic. 

•  Hall Gill was scratched, which changed the defensive pairings. The Predators had two glaring defensive breakdowns that cost them two quick goals in the second period. The change in the pairings- along with a brutal line change on the goal by Kobesew- may be partly to blame for the breakdowns.

• Good to see Fisher and Weber notch goals. The team desperately needs their offensive production.

Strange to say the least is how to describe this game. Missed opportunity is apropos.

The Predators have to re-group and bring the effort they did in the third period against the Red Wings tomorrow night.

Hopefully, nothing strange happens.

My three stars:

1. Seymon Varlamov

2. Aaron Palushaj

3. Sergei Kostitsyn

Predators Defeat Desperate Avalanche 4-2

The Nashville Predators faced a desperate Colorado Avalanche team that was fighting for a playoff spot at the Bridgestone Arena. While the Predators may not have felt the same sense of desperation, being firmly ensconced in the 5th spot in the Western Conference, it was important for the the Predators to get back to their "A" game and play with their own sense of desperation and purpose.

Just 1:14 into the game, the Avs put their desperation and drive on display as Jamie McGinn potted a goal from the low slot as the Predators had a mix up in defensive coverage. Roman Josi pursued the puck into the corner and was late getting back into position, leaving McGinn alone in the low slot where he beat Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne with a quick wrist shot.

Not exactly the start the Predators wanted or needed. Giving early momentum to a hungry hockey team is does not bode well.

The Predators seized the momentum back just 1:40 later as Mike Fisher beat Semyon Varlamov for his 20th goal of the year to tie the game at 1.

The Predators would take a 2-1 lead at 6:58 of the first as former Av Brandon Yip re-directed a Josi shot from the blue line past Varlamov. Yip was screening in front at the top of the blue paint and the shot hit his leg and changed direction past Varlamov.

Yip-ee-ki-yeah...

In the second period, the Predators did a great job of establishing zone possession and controlling the puck, but could not get one past Varlamov, who made several acrobatic saves. The Predators held the Avs without a shot for over 10 minutes in the period, but could not get a puck past Varlamov.

The Avs did get several good scoring chances in the period, as Rinne made two good saves, each time leaving the puck in the paint. Once, Ryan Suter swept the puck away from former Predator Shane O'Brien, and Shea Weber played the puck to the corner past an on-rushing Avalanche forward.

With just a one goal lead and the period winding down, this game had all the hallmarks of a nail-biter going into the third period. That would change at 19:28 of the second as Sergei Kostitsyn gave the Predators some breathing room with a wicked wrist shot that beat Varlamov over his shoulder to give the Predators a 3-1 lead.

That two goal lead was important for the Predators as the Avalanche once again had the deficit down to 1 goal as Paul Stastny got loose in the low slot and beat a screened Rinne at 4:58 of the third period.

Yes, it was time to bite those nails once again.

The Predators caught a break in the third as Cody McLeod sent in a shot from the blue line through traffic that hit the crossbar and bounced down behind Rinne, who was able to cover the puck.

The Predators responded to the Avs pressure and were able to hold off their offensive push in the remainder of the third period. The Avs pulled Varlamov for the extra attacker with 1:27 remaining in the game. Paul Gaustad found Marty Erat coming through the neutral zone, and Erat buried the empty net goal at 19:16 of the third to seal a 4-2 win for the Predators.

For the game, the Predators out shot the Avs 31-17.

The Predators have 85 points, 6 ahead of 6rh place Chicago. They trail 4th place Detroit by 4 points with the Wings coming to town on Saturday.

This was a solid, workman-like effort from the Predators. 10 players had a point tonight, and that balance is going to be critical for the Predators in their remaining regular season games and especially in the playoffs.

The quick response of the Predators after the Avs early score was a display of character. The Predators broke down in defensive coverage and it cost them a goal. Getting a quick response was essential in positioning themselves to take control of the game. Colorado is a team that desperately needs points, and they are playing with a sense of urgency. The Predators matched that urgency that Colorado brought to the game and took control of the contest in the second period.

That is character.

And that is what is going to be required in their remaining games.

My three stars:

1. Sergei Kostitsyn

2. Mike Fisher

3. Paul Stastny