Stop me if you have heard this before...
The depleted Nashville Predators squad put forth a good effort but were shut out again, falling to the Detroit Red Wings at the Bridgestone Arena 3-0.
The Predators have been shut out for a league high 9 times this season.
Some observations:
I Liked...
the play of Taylor Beck. He was strong on the puck and solid defensively. Beck continues to settle in and play with confidence and looks to have a bright future.
It Was Only One Game...
but Filip Forsberg showed some potential. Playing on a line with Beck and David Legwand, Forsberg seemed to have no trouble adjusting to the speed and physical play of the NHL. He made some good decisions with the puck and was poised for an 18 year old making his NHL debut. The real test for Forsberg will be handling the rigors of a full season.
Without Pekka Rinne...
this team would have been embarrassed. Rinne made some great saves and was under siege during the second period when the Wings dominated play and fired 16 shots on net to the paltry 4 for the Predators. As usual, Pekka has to be perfect for the Predators to win, and this is too big of a burden for any netminder to have to carry.
Is It A Rule...
that if the Predators have a breakaway or penalty shot that they can only shoot five hole? Matt Halischuk had a shorthanded breakaway attempt, and with Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard taking the low part of the net away, Halischuk still tried to go five hole. Bobby Butler was denied on a penalty shot with Howard again taking away the lower part of the net. With a yawning top shelf, Butler shot the puck into the pads of Howard. Maybe it is a rule.
Final Thoughts
The young squad gave a good effort, but once again fell short. If this team is going to win another game this season, they are going to have to develop a scorer's mentality and find the net. Otherwise, this dismal season will not end soon enough.
My three stars:
1. Jimmy Howard
2. Pekka Rinne
3. Henrik Zetterberg
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