Predators Once Again Blow a Lead, Fall In OT to the Wild

The Nashville Predators are desperate for a win.

Roman Josi did his best to see that would happen.

Unfortunately, the rest of the team didn't follow.

Roman Josi put the team on his back and scored 2 goals 45 seconds apart in the second period to give the Predators a 2-1 lead going into the third period.

Regrettably, this Predators team has lost all ability to close out a game.

Charlie Coyle had given the Wild a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period as he out muscled the Predators mini-me defenseman Ryan Ellis. Coyle struck again in a third period that the Predators once again let slip away. His rocket from the face off circle over the shoulder of Pekka Rinne tied the game at 2.

Just 22 seconds into the overtime, Matt Dumba scored to give the Wild a win and send the Predators to their 9th loss in their last 12 games.

Some observations:

• The Predators dominated the second period and pumped 11 shots on Devan Dubnyk. Roman Josi got free in the slot and blasted a shot over the shoulder of Dubnyk. Less than a minute later, Josi strucjk again with a well placed shot through traffic that beat Dubnyk on the glove side. The Predators controlled play and out shot the Wild 11-3 and held a decided territorial advantage in the Wild zone.
• The most troubling aspect about this team that has shown itself through this losing streak is that the opponents have ramped up their intensity and their snappiness while the Predators have not come close to matching that effort. The Wild out shot the Predators 11-6 in the third period, but controlled play for long stretches in the Predators zone. The Predators had no answer, much like in the Ducks game and like many games in this losing skid. This does not bode well for this team. I have said that opponents are playing playoff hockey, while the Predators are not even close. This was another of those games. When the Predators have had the lead, they have been content to stop attacking and just dump the puck out of the zone. They have relied on Rinne to make every save, and this is not a formula for success. Failing to match the intensity and effort of the opponent and losing their offensive edge has cost the Predators the last two games. It will cost them in the playoffs as well.
• Big ups to Roman Josi, who played his ass off and did his dead level best to carry the Predators to victory. It is a shame the rest of his mates didn't follow suit. There were questions as to whether Josi could be an adequate replacement for Ryan Suter, and Josi has more than answered those questions. He is by far and away a more complete defenseman than Suter. Josi is 5 points away from tying Shea Weber's point total for most points by a Predators defenseman (61 points).
• For the life of me, I cannot understand why Mike Santorelli is getting top line minutes. Since his acquisition at the trade deadline, Santorelli has shown me nothing. He does not have a point yet is getting prime minutes with James Neal out of the lineup.

This losing skid has exposed the most glaring weakness of this team, and that is the failure to amp up their intensity in tightly contested contests.

Think that intensity is going to be even higher in the playoffs?

The Predators have done nothing different in their style of play. That worked well early in the season, but this is the time of year where effort, intensity, and heart go to another level. The Predators have- so far- shown they are not up to that challenge.

As they slip further in the standings, they are looking at a first round matchup against Chicago. Think the Blackhawks will elevate their game?

The question for the Predators is can they find another gear?

If they can't, it is not going to be fun.

My three stars:

1. Roman Josi

2. Charlie Coyle

3. Matt Dumba

Predators Slug Out a 3-1 Win Over the Wild

The Nashville Predators traveled to the frozen tundra of Minnesota to take on a desperate Wild team in a Central Division battle.

The contest was a sloppy affair with both teams turning over the puck and playing a generally inconsistent game.

Mike Fisher tallied in the first period off a nice assist from Colin Wilson beating Niklas Backstrom with a backhand shot. Charlie Coyle tied the game late in the first as he was left alone at the side of the net and was able to tap home a rebound past Pekka Rinne.

After a scoreless second period, the game ramped up in intensity in the third. Calle Jarnkrok drove the net and slammed home a rebound of a shot from Olli Jokinen. Colin Wilson backhanded a shot from the low slot past Backstrom.

The game got ugly when Matt Cooke crossed checked Shea Weber in the face with just over three minutes to go. Weber proceeded to pound Cooke into the ice after his cheap shot.

That wasn't the end of the fisticuffs as Nate Prosser drew the ire of Mike Fisher and Fisher unleashed some righteous fury on Prosser, leaving him addled after landing some serious right hands.

The rest of the game ended without incident and the Predators skated off with a 3-1 win.

Some observations:

• Last season, the Predators struggled in close games, and rarely were able to come from behind to capture a win. How things have turned, as the Predators are 18-4-4 in one goal games.
• Since 2010, the Predators are 10-3-3 against the Wild.
• Taylor Beck, Matt Cullen, and Anton Volchenkov returned to the line up. Ryan Ellis, James Neal, and Eric Nystrom were out of the game due to injury. Mark Arcobello was a healthy scratch.
• The play of Colin Wilson has been exceptional. He is battling in the hard areas for the puck and is dangerous in the offensive zone. He is using his speed, vision, and puck handling to create scoring chances for himself and those on his line. Good to see Wilson playing to his talent level. Wilson figured prominently in the outcome of this game with his play today.
• The Wild have been struggling and there is some question about how long Head Coach Mike Yeo would remain with the team. As such, the Wild came out with an air of desperation and played with moments of intensity that the Predators looked like they had trouble matching. That the Predators kept grinding and attacking speaks well of the mindset of this team. This was not a pretty game by any stretch, but the Predators just would not relent and were rewarded for their efforts.
• With the injury to Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm is being asked to play more minutes in all situations. Ekholm has responded well and is maturing into a solid blueliner for the Predators.
• Calle Jarnkrok played some quality minutes in the contest. he is used on the PK and has solidified his position as the team's third line center. He is puck smart and uses his speed to doggedly forecheck and create some scoring chances in the offensive zone. His goal in the third period was the game winner.
• Pekka Rinne had to make some very good saves. His save on Mikko Koivu in the third period was incredible. Rinne made 36 saves on 37 shots.
• The Predators are the first team in the NHL to 60 points. They now sit 4 points ahead of the Blackhawks with a game in hand and 2 points in front of the Ducks with 2 games in hand.
• One of the few games where the Predators have been badly out shot. the Wild had a 10 shot advantage, 37-27.
• The Predators PK was superb, stopping all 5 man advantage opportunities for the Wild. Three consecutive Wild power plays in the second period yielded 2 shots.

After a slow start, the team responded and started to turn it on and build momentum throughout the game. The result is what happens when a team just refuses to relent and to cave in a hostile environment.

This is what championship caliber teams do.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Colin Wilson

3. Calle Jarnkrok