Predators Ride A Strong Game From Rinne to Defeat the Canadiens In A Shootout 2-1

The Nashville Predators began a 3 game road trip by stopping at the Bell Centre to take on the Montreal Canadiens in their second and last meeting of the season. The Predators captured a 5-1 win at Bridgestone Arena in December.

An early goal by Viktor Arvidsson gave the Predators a 1-0 lead just 3:16 into the first period.

A late first period goal by Brendan Gallagher in a goal mouth scramble tied the game at 1 with 1:17 remaining in the first period.

The remainder of regulation was a grinding contest that saw Pekka Rinne and Mike Condon both make some good saves and neither team find the back of the net. Rinne stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced in regulation, while Condon stopped 28 of 29.

For the 12th time this season, the Predators were heading to OT and they were looking for only their 2nd win in the extra session.

The Predators at least didn't lose this game in OT as neither team could score, even though it looked as if Craig Smith would end the game but managed to bat his own shot away from a wide open net.

Craig Smith would redeem himself in the shootout as he was the only player to score to give the Predators a 2-1 win.


Some observations:

• Though small in stature, Viktor Arvidsson is not afraid to go into high traffic areas and in front of the net. He was rewarded with the first goal of the game by going to the the front of the net and eluded the Habs D to bang a puck behind Condon. I think the Aardvark can mature into a dangerous player with some more physical strength and experience.
• The Predators defense was victimized by failing to clear the front of the crease in front of Rinne. Brendan Gallagher was able to establish position on Shea Weber and bang a puck past Rinne to tie the game. The defense has been better recently in clearing the front of the net and they cannot lapse back into letting the opponent establish position in prime scoring areas.
• Rinne was called upon to make some very good saves, especially in the second period as the Canadiens seized momentum early. Rinne has seemed to be more calm in the net and still has the ability to make the athletic save when called upon. He seems to be playing with more confidence lately, and that is good for the Predators. Rinne has allowed just 3 goals in his last 3 starts, and this is the caliber of play that we have to have to rack up points.
• Craig Smith had a glorious chance to score late in OT and somehow couldn't get the puck into a wide open net. Truly the hockey gods hate the Predators in OT.
• But how good was it to see the coaching staff put Smith out in the third round of the shootout and to see him beat Condon top shelf. Smith plays with abandon and to see him get redemption with the game winner in the shootout was sweet.
• The Predators actually played the OT period with purpose and a sense of urgency. While they didn't win in the OT period, at least they were more competitive than have been all season. There is too much offensive talent on this team not to attack and press the play in a 3 on 3 format, and they did that tonight and although they didn't score, it was still a positive outcome.

This was a big win for the Predators as points are now precious. The Predators now have 67 points to move 1 point in front of Colorado with 2 games in hand.It also places them 3 points in front of the Wild, how have been hot of late.

The Predators have to continue to amass points and play with a sense of desperation.

This was a good start.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Craig Smith

3. Viktor Arvidsson 

Predators Return the Favor, Defeat the Canadiens in OT

The two best goaltenders in the NHL as well as two of the best teams went head to head at the Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators dueled with the Montreal Canadiens.

In their first meeting, the Canadiens won in overtime.

The Predators returned the favor, defeating the Candiens 3-2 on a Filip Forsberg power play goal.

Forsberg's heroics were set up by a tripping penalty on P.K. Subban for the Predators 5th power play goal of the night.

Mattias Ekholm opened the scoring with a highlight reel goal. Ekholm stole the puck, split the defense and was tripped. Ekholm got up off his belly, got to his knees, and flipped the puck past Carey Price to make it 1-0 for the Predators.

The Candiens came back strong in the second period, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead. The Predators failed to clear a puck that Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne should have covered. The puck squirted out into the slot and Brendan Gallagher slammed the puck past Rinne to tie the game at 1.

David Desharnais gave the Habs the lead when the Predators defensive coverage broke down. Desharnais was left alone at the side of the net, and P.A. Parenteau found him with a perfect pass. Rinne had no chance as Desharnais banged home the puck into a wide open net.

Ryan Ellis tied the game in the third period when his flip from the blue line hit the ice 10 feet in front of Price. Filip Forsberg was in front screening Price and the puck took a high bounce and into the net over the shoulder of Price for a 2 all score.

In the overtime, Forsberg stole the puck from Subban and was off on a breakaway when Subban tripped Forsberg. On the ensuing power play, Mike Ribeiro mad a nice pass across the slot and Forsberg buried the game winner over an out of position Price.

Some observations:

• Mattias Ekholm scored a beauty of a goal. He stole the puck, split the defense, was tripped, and still had the presence to get his stick on the puck and lift it over Price. That goal was the first goal that Price had given up in 166:10 of play. Ekholm has been solid in the defensive end and has shown some surprisingly good offensive flair. That goal had to lift the Predators as it showed they could score against the best netminder in the NHL.
• Price leads the league with 40 wins. Pekka Rinne is right behind him, picking up his 39th win tonight. Rinne was strong in the net and made some quality saves. Both goals that the Canadiens scored occurred off defensive breakdowns by the team in front of him. The Desharnais goal was especially egregious, as the forward responsible for Desharnais was no where to be found on that scoring play. Rinne was solid and made some very good saves on quality scoring chances by the Habs.
• Ryan Ellis scored his career high 7th goal with what could be charitably called a fluke goal. The puck took a high bounce over the shoulder of Price, but full marks to Ellis for getting it on net and to Forsberg for doing a good job battling in front of the net and screening Price.
• Kevin Fiala, the Predators first round draft choice in 2014, made his NHL debut. He logged 11:25 in ice time and put 3 shots on net. The 18 year old has had quite a year, playing in the Swedish Elite League, the World Junior Championships (representing Sweden), the American Hockey League, and now the NHL. And he is not even close to being old enough to buy a beer.
• Fiala was a call up because Viktor Stalberg was injured in the morning skate. Matt Cullen was also scratched. No word on his status.
• With the win, the Predators are now 14-8 in overtime.
• Colin Wilson picked up an assist on the goal by Ryan Ellis, his 100th assist.
• Mike Ribeiro had 2 assists, giving him 497 for his career.
• Filip Forsberg picked up his 22nd second goal of the season with his overtime tally. This was his 6th game winning goal of the year.
• This is the first time that the Predators have won back to back games since February 22nd and 24th.
• Props to the Predator fans. Tonight's sellout crowd was the 26th of the season, setting a franchise record.
• Although the game winning goal came on the power play, the Predators power play unit continues to struggle. They were 1-5 tonight and often had trouble just entering the zone. The Predators are going to have to get the power play fixed and become more of a threat with the man advantage or it is going to bite them in the ass in the remainder of the season and in the playoffs.
• The Predators were 60% in the faceoff circle. Mike Fisher led the way, winning 16 of 20 draws.
• The Predators out shot the Canadiens 31-29.

The Predators sit 1 point behind St. Louis and Anaheim with 98 points and 4 points ahead of Chicago. With the point tonight, the Canadiens are the first team in the NHL to reach 100 points.

It doesn't get any easier for the Predators as they will have a 2 game roadie with Tampa Bay and Washington, two teams that will look to avenge earlier season losses to the Predators.

Play like you did tonight and you can win those games, boys.

My three stars:

1. Filip Forsberg

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Carey Price

Predators Pick Up First Road Win, Defeat the Canadiens 2-1

The Nashville Predators began a three game road trip in Montreal looking for their first road win of the season while facing a Canadiens team that is fast and talented.

Mission accomplished.

The first period was a fast paced, penalty filled period that saw the Predators capitalize on one of their four power play opportunities. P. K Subban was in the box for tripping when Ryan White cleared the puck over the glass to give the Predators 39 seconds of 5 on 3. Subban had just exited the box when Shea Weber attempted a cross crease pass that hit Montreal defenseman Josh Georges and caromed into the net past Canadiens netminder Carey Price. Weber's second goal of the season came at 12:31 of the first period.

The Predators out shot the Canadiens 14-6 in the first period thanks to the power play opportunities.

The Predators opened the second period with good jump and had some quality opportunities on the power play  and at even strength but could not bury their shots.

The Canadiens tied the game at 1 at 7:02 of the second as they sent traffic to the net. Pekka Rinne made two stops close in but Brendan Gallagher gathered in a loose puck in the crease and banged it past Rinne.

The Predators kept up the pressure in the second period, out shooting the Canadiens 16-11, but failed to finish on their chances.

Montreal opened the third period swarming the Predators net and was awarded a goal after a furious goal mouth scramble. The play went to review and it showed that Rinne had covered the puck and it did not cross the goal line. For once, the Predators had caught a break after a review from the war room in Toronto.

The Predators would be shorthanded, however, as David Legwand was called for cross checking on the play. Fortunately, the Predators were able to kill the penalty.

The Predators flirted with disaster in the third period, taking three penalties and putting the potent Canadiens power play on the ice. The Predators PK unit came up big, killing all penalties.

The Predators took a 2-1 lead at 18:33 as David Legwand worked a nice give and go with Seth Jones. Jones passed to Legwand on the half board and fed a pass to Jones who was driving the net. Jones beat Price from just inside the face off circle with a nice wrist shot over the blocker.

The Predators defense made that goal stand up for the win.

Some observations:

• Remember when the Predators wouldn't shoot the puck? The Predators out shot the Canadiens 37-29 and were pouring shots on net. Lacking elite goal scorers, this team has to shoot the puck and go hard after rebounds. They have been doing that this season, and this is how they are going to have to play to win games.

• Seth Jones has been solid on the blue line, but he has some very good offensive skills. His goal was a thing of beauty, as he drew the puck back away from the defender and scored off a well placed wrist shot. Jones showed good instincts in jumping into the play and more importantly was able to finish the chance.

• Rinne was very solid. he made some good, scrambling saves when the Canadiens were putting pressure on the net. As goes Rinne, so goes this team.

• The Predators were without Mike Fisher, who was out of the line up with a lower body injury.

• Still waiting for Viktor Stalberg to show up. Once again, he had 10:29 of ice time, the lowest of any Predator that dressed, and has yet to get on the score sheet.

• The Predators PK was outstanding. They killed all five man advantage opportunities by the Canadiens and their play helped to keep Montreal from seizing momentum in a very tight game.

• While the PP did score on one opportunity, this unit has to improve. They are showing some positives, but too often, there is no motion and they are too easy to defend.

This was a solid road win against a very good team. This is the type of win that the team can use to build momentum, and they will get their chance to do just that tomorrow night in Winnipeg.

My three stars:

1. Seth Jones

2. Pekka Rinne

3. David Legwand