Predators Give Away A Point, Fall to the Stars In OT 3-2

The Nashville Predators got a taste of playoff hockey at Bridgestone Arena when they faced off against the Dallas Stars in their second meeting of the year.

The game was physical, tight checking, and intense. In the end, the Stars prevailed in overtime, not on an exceptional play but on a line change that was laughably inept by the Predators. In fact, it would have been hilarious except that it cost the Predators the game.

Trying to get a change with tired players on the ice, Filip forsberg tumbled over the boards and fell flat on his face, allowing the Stars an odd man rush that resulted in  a Mattias Janmark goal to decide the game in favor of the Stars by a 3-2 score.

The teams got there by Craig Smith scoring on a rebound of a Mattias Ekholm shot  past Antti Niemi to send the Predators into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

The first 10 minutes of the second period was owned by the Stars. With the Predators on a power play, they gave up a shorthanded goal to Cody Eakin, who placed a shot in the short side corner past Carter Hutton to tie the game at 1.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead as the Predators defense left Ales Hemsky alone in front of the net and he roofed a shot over Hutton.

The Predators tied the game at 2 when Smith controlled the puck behind the net and found Filip Forsberg in the slot and he buried the shot to tie the game at 2 at the end of the second period.

After a scoreless third period that saw both teams get some chances, including a glorious chance by Jamie Benn who was once again left alone in front of the net but was stoned twice by Hutton, the teams headed to overtime.

The extra period has not been kind to the Predators.

It was not again tonight, as the horrible line change left Janmark alone at the side of the net to gather in a rebound of a Tyler Seguin shot and deposit into the open cage.

Some observations:

• The Predators are going to have to figure out how to play in OT. With tonight's loss, they are 1-9 in the extra five minutes. That's 9 points left on the table for a team that desperately needs points. While the poor line change cost them tonight, the Predators also did not register a shot. I don't know what the problem is for this team in OT. Lots of open ice and talented players but they have not gelled all season long. This is an aspect of their game that has to improve.
• A tough, physical game that saw the Predators hold their own against a talented Stars team has to be a confidence boost. After getting trucked by a 5-1 margin on New year's Eve, the Predators skated hard and were equal to the task against the Stars tonight. I expected the Stars to have some pushes, but the Predators weathered those and were able to battle back against a very talented squad. While they would have wanted the 2 points, this is the kind of game that this team can continue to build upon.
• I thought Carter Hutton was outstanding tonight. He made some exceptional saves, including 2 on Benn with 4  minutes to go that helped to secure a point. Hutton has looked more calm and positionally sound and his play has solidified the confidence of the coaches to insert him into the line up.
• Craig Smith played his rear end off tonight. he was all over the ice battling for the puck and creating scoring chances. His goal came from a simple play of driving the net and following a shot. If Smith can continue to play with this intensity, the points will come for him. He had a goal and an assist tonight.
• There were 3 other players that stood out to me tonight: Viktor Arvidsson; Miikka Salomaki, and Anthony Bitetto. Arvisson played with his usual speed and energy but was stronger on the puck and created some scoring opportunities. Salomaki is a consistent physical presence on the 4th line and uses that physicality to separate players from the puck and disrupt the opponent's offensive flow. Bitetto has apparently secured the third D pairing with Barrett Jackman. Bitetto is physical and does not shy away from contact. He has grown in confidence and is playing a solid all around game.
• Forsberg now has 5 goals in his last 5 games. His goal tonight was his 19th of the year.
• The Predators have one regulation loss in their last 8 contests (6-1-1) at Bridgestone Arena against the Stars. The last time the Stars won in regulation at Bridgestone was April 12, 2013.

This is a game that had many positive aspects for the Predators, but it also one that they let a second point get away.

This team has to limit mistakes and learn to put games away.

They are showing signs of turning the corner.

They need to do so quickly.

My three stars:

1. Mattias Janmark

2. Craig Smith

3. Carter Hutton

Predators Embarrassed by the Oilers 6-3

The Nashville Predators were in the Bridgestone Arena for a game with the Edmonton Oilers. Unfortunately, the Predators were there in name only, as the Oilers embarrassed them by a 6-3 margin.

First, kudos to the Oilers. The captured the season series 3-0-1 and the Predators never were in any of the contests except for a lucky OT win in Edmonton. Tonight, the team with the second worst record in the Western Conference dominated the Predators and earned the win.

Here are some observations from the game:

The Predators out shot the Oilers 44-20. That is a positive. However, many of the shots were easy for Oilers netminder Devan Dubnyk to handle. Often the shots came from the point with not traffic in front of the net. In fact, Patric Hornqvist was one of a few Predators that was willing to go into the hard areas in front of the net. Hornqvist was rewarded for his efforts with a goal and was hosed by the officials when another goal was waved off for a specious interference call.

At times, the power play looked lost. Yes, they were 1 for 3, but often, the Oilers won puck battles or beat the Predators to pucks and cleared the zone. The power play did not show much movement at times, allowing the Oilers to attack the puck and force the turnover.

The two and a half man D pairing of Hal Gill and Ryan Ellis was atrocious. Those two spent two periods together and never developed any semblance of chemistry. Gill was -3 and Ellis was -4 for the night. That pairing was split up in the third period, with Kevin Klein pairing with Gill and Ellis pairing with Francis Buillon.

The Oilers first goal was a fluke, with a puck thrown toward the net careening off the skate of Klein and past Rinne. The second goal was a 2 on 1 break by the Oilers. But the third goal was a killer. It looked as if Rinne had the puck in his glove, and the defense relaxed. Rinne did not control the rebound, and the Oilers played to the whistle and Ales Hemsky banged home the loose puck for a 3-1 lead.

The Predators sloppy play made Hemsky look like the second coming of Gretzky, as Hemsky had a hat trick. The only thing that one can say about that is unbelievable.

To give up 6 goals on 20 shots is...beyond words. Defensive coverage was awful, allowing way too much traffic to our net. It is surprising how much this team misses Roman Josi.

Here is the bottom line: this is a talented team that is not ready for a playoff run. This team lacks intensity and an edge. Too often, the Predators let their opponent punch them in the mouth and they do not respond. This is an element of their game that is missing and will bite them in the ass come playoff time.

It is up to the coaching staff to get this team ready to play, and I have confidence they do that. However, it is up to the players themselves to respond positively to adversity, and right now, I do not see that leadership on the ice. That is scary, and does not bode well for the Predators.

As a team, you do not want to shuffle into the playoffs. You want to be hitting stride when the playoffs start. Right now, the Predators are not in stride. They are stumbling.

It is time for each player to look around the room and hold themselves and each other accountable. It is time for this team to amp up their intensity and their effort. The shots on goal belie the fact this team was sloppy tonight.

Sloppy will get you killed in the playoffs.

This is a game that is forgettable. I hope this team doesn't forget it. I want them to vividly remember that just showing up is not how you win games.

I want this team to remember the opportunity they lost. An opportunity to build a small lead on their hold on fourth place. And I want them to use this embarrassment to fuel stronger play in the remaining regular season games.

And especially in the playoffs.

My three stars:

1. Ales Hemsky

2. Devan Dubnyk

3. David Legwand