The playoffs have begun and the Predators find themselves on the outside looking in, a position to which they have grown unaccustomed.
As we look back over the season, we can point our finger at several developments that resulted in the team missing the post season. Injuries certainly took their toll. The hockey gods did not smile favorably on the team.
And of course, there are the players themselves.
We are going to grade the Predators and look at their performance in the recently completed season.
The Predators have consistently said they built the team from the net out, so let's start with the goalies.
Pekka Rinne 15-16-8 2.43 GAA .910 Save %
Pekka was once again the workhorse for the Predators, starting 42 games. Peks recorded 5 shut outs and kept most games close for a team that struggled to score goals. Considering that the Predators tied for dead last in the NHL in goal scoring, this was no mean feat. Yet Rinne at times looked average, and it was revealed after the season that he had played the full year with an undisclosed injury. That may explain the middle of the road season.
Rinne lead the NHL with shutouts with 5; his 15 wins were good for 19th in the League, but his 16 losses were the 5th worst. His goals against average was not up to his usual standard, good for 25th in the League, and his save % was good for 18th. With an offensively challenged team, those numbers were not good enough to get the team to the post season.
Rinne lost his mojo in shoot outs, which was a complete reversal from last season. Again, the extent of his injury is unknown, but one has to believe it came into play in the skills competition. Rinne's save % in shoot outs slumped to .556 compared to last season's .794.
The Predators have relied on Rinne to keep them close in games and give them a chance to win. Although his effort cannot be faulted, the fact that he was more pedestrian meant the Predators would have their struggles.
Rinne's leadership and competitiveness are unparalleled, and I expect him to rebound in the coming season. The issue of his health affected his play this season and his final grade.
Final Grade: B
Chris Mason 1-7-1 3.73 GAA .873 Save %
Mace showed flashes of brilliance, making great saves and playing exceptionally well in the last game of the season against Columbus. Too often, though, his play was spotty and he failed to come up with timely saves. Part of this may have been the fact that he went long stretches without playing and could not get used to the speed of the game. Perhaps the bigger question for the coaching staff is have Mason's skills diminished to the point that he cannot serve in the back up role.
The Predators needed to have Mason contribute some quality starts, but as his record shows, he could not backstop the team to wins. One has to wonder if the coaching staff lost confidence in Mason.
Mason is good in the locker room and a quality teammate. The question that the team must address in the off season is if Mason can be a quality back up or if it is time to bring up a netminder from Milwaukee. It will be interesting to see what decision is made.
Final Grade: D
In the next installment, we will look at the defense.
Showing posts with label Chris Mason. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Mason. Show all posts
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Predators Flop in the Third Period, Fall to Blue Jackets
The Nashville Predators and the Columbus Blue Jackets met at Nationwide Arena in the final game of the season. For one team, the game meant nothing- finish and book your tee time. For the other team, the outcome of the game held playoff implications- win and have the opportunity to get in the playoffs.
Unlike years past, it was the Predators that would be booking tee times and the Blue Jackets were fighting to get into the playoffs.
For the Predators, it was one final game to audition some of the younger players that had populated the line up in the latter part of the season. On final opportunity to get a win and assuage some of the bad emotions that have built in this difficult season.
The Predators were going to have match the emotion and intensity that the Jackets would be playing with if they were going to win this game.
Chris Mason was in net for the Predators, while the Jackets had Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes.
A spirited first period ended with neither team scoring, but each generated some good chances. Both netminders came up with some good stops, especially Bobrovsky as the Predators had some good flurries in front of the net. The Predators did a good job of matching the intensity of the Jackets in the opening frame.
The Predators opened the scoring at 8:29 of the second period as Joonas Rask kept the puck in at the blue line in the Jackets zone. he got the puck to David Legwand, who dropped the puck to Shea Weber. Weber fired a wrist shot from the face off circle that beat Bobrovsky over his shoulder to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Chris Mason came up with a huge save on Brandon Dubinsky, who broke in alone on the Predators net. Mason stopped Dubinsky with his glove with a brilliant save.
The period ended with the Predators leading 1-0. The jackets had out shot the Predators 22-15 through the first 40 minutes.
Everyone knew that the Jackets would have a push fueled by desperation in the third period, and that is exactly what happened. The Jackets opened the third out shooting the Predators 11-0 in the first 7 minutes of the period, and Mason made some good saves to keep the Jackets off the board, including a stretch of two minutes of a Columbus power play.
With Chris Mueller in the box and the Jackets on their second power play of the game, they finally broke through as Brandon Dubinsky got loose in the slot and beat mason off a backhand to tie the game at 1 at 10:09 of the third period.
As solidly as the Predators had played in the first 40 minutes, they had disappeared in the third period. Through 12:40 of the period, the Predators had been out shot 15-1 and showed no offensive instinct whatsoever. The Predators were letting the Jackets dictate and dominate play, and if they were going to have an opportunity to win this game, they would have to re-discover their offensive game and establish some zone presence.
Jack Johnson gave the jackets a 2-1 lead as he circled behind the net and threw the puck back to the front. The puck hit the back of Mason's pads and floated into the blue paint. Shea Weber inadvertently hit the puck with his stick and knocked it into the net for an unfortunate goal.
The Blue Jackets would add an empty net goal by Cam Atkisson for the final margin of 3-1.
Some observations:
Final Frame Flop
The Predators had played a solid 40 minutes of hockey only to completely collapse in the final frame. The Jackets totally dominated the Predators, out shooting them 26-5. The Jackets were going to come out with intensity and desperation in the final 20 minutes, and the Predators did not come close to matching their effort. This is disappointing even with the young line up. The veterans had to step up and lead and in the process calm down the youngsters. They failed miserably.
Painful Learning Experience
Injuries forced a number of young players into the line up, and they had to play some critical minutes during the latter stages of the season. They weren't often rewarded and the learning experience was not pleasant. The positive aspect of this painful learning experience is just that- experience. They have seen what it takes to compete and win at the highest level. They have also felt what it is like to be in the losing locker room. Those experiences will serve them and the team well in the coming seasons.
Forsberg Has The Potential...
to be really good. he is composed and smooth with the puck. He possesses great hockey sense. With physical and mental maturity that will come, he has the potential to be the elite scorer the Predators sorely lack. It is just that- potential. We will have to watch his development closely.
Mason Deserved Better
Chris Mason played his best game of the year, making some great saves, including on two breakaways. He got absolutely no support in the third period, and the Predators wasted a solid effort.
Final Thoughts
Mercifully, this miserable season has come to an end. Disappointing would be an understatement, but there are lessons that can be learned.
Fail to learn those lessons and next year could be just as ugly.
My three stars:
1. Sergei Bobrovsky
2. Chris Mason
3. Jack Johnson
Unlike years past, it was the Predators that would be booking tee times and the Blue Jackets were fighting to get into the playoffs.
For the Predators, it was one final game to audition some of the younger players that had populated the line up in the latter part of the season. On final opportunity to get a win and assuage some of the bad emotions that have built in this difficult season.
The Predators were going to have match the emotion and intensity that the Jackets would be playing with if they were going to win this game.
Chris Mason was in net for the Predators, while the Jackets had Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes.
A spirited first period ended with neither team scoring, but each generated some good chances. Both netminders came up with some good stops, especially Bobrovsky as the Predators had some good flurries in front of the net. The Predators did a good job of matching the intensity of the Jackets in the opening frame.
The Predators opened the scoring at 8:29 of the second period as Joonas Rask kept the puck in at the blue line in the Jackets zone. he got the puck to David Legwand, who dropped the puck to Shea Weber. Weber fired a wrist shot from the face off circle that beat Bobrovsky over his shoulder to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Chris Mason came up with a huge save on Brandon Dubinsky, who broke in alone on the Predators net. Mason stopped Dubinsky with his glove with a brilliant save.
The period ended with the Predators leading 1-0. The jackets had out shot the Predators 22-15 through the first 40 minutes.
Everyone knew that the Jackets would have a push fueled by desperation in the third period, and that is exactly what happened. The Jackets opened the third out shooting the Predators 11-0 in the first 7 minutes of the period, and Mason made some good saves to keep the Jackets off the board, including a stretch of two minutes of a Columbus power play.
With Chris Mueller in the box and the Jackets on their second power play of the game, they finally broke through as Brandon Dubinsky got loose in the slot and beat mason off a backhand to tie the game at 1 at 10:09 of the third period.
As solidly as the Predators had played in the first 40 minutes, they had disappeared in the third period. Through 12:40 of the period, the Predators had been out shot 15-1 and showed no offensive instinct whatsoever. The Predators were letting the Jackets dictate and dominate play, and if they were going to have an opportunity to win this game, they would have to re-discover their offensive game and establish some zone presence.
Jack Johnson gave the jackets a 2-1 lead as he circled behind the net and threw the puck back to the front. The puck hit the back of Mason's pads and floated into the blue paint. Shea Weber inadvertently hit the puck with his stick and knocked it into the net for an unfortunate goal.
The Blue Jackets would add an empty net goal by Cam Atkisson for the final margin of 3-1.
Some observations:
Final Frame Flop
The Predators had played a solid 40 minutes of hockey only to completely collapse in the final frame. The Jackets totally dominated the Predators, out shooting them 26-5. The Jackets were going to come out with intensity and desperation in the final 20 minutes, and the Predators did not come close to matching their effort. This is disappointing even with the young line up. The veterans had to step up and lead and in the process calm down the youngsters. They failed miserably.
Painful Learning Experience
Injuries forced a number of young players into the line up, and they had to play some critical minutes during the latter stages of the season. They weren't often rewarded and the learning experience was not pleasant. The positive aspect of this painful learning experience is just that- experience. They have seen what it takes to compete and win at the highest level. They have also felt what it is like to be in the losing locker room. Those experiences will serve them and the team well in the coming seasons.
Forsberg Has The Potential...
to be really good. he is composed and smooth with the puck. He possesses great hockey sense. With physical and mental maturity that will come, he has the potential to be the elite scorer the Predators sorely lack. It is just that- potential. We will have to watch his development closely.
Mason Deserved Better
Chris Mason played his best game of the year, making some great saves, including on two breakaways. He got absolutely no support in the third period, and the Predators wasted a solid effort.
Final Thoughts
Mercifully, this miserable season has come to an end. Disappointing would be an understatement, but there are lessons that can be learned.
Fail to learn those lessons and next year could be just as ugly.
My three stars:
1. Sergei Bobrovsky
2. Chris Mason
3. Jack Johnson
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Predators Wilt Against the Wings
The Nashville Predators have been relegated to the role of spoiler as the season winds down, and they were in Detroit not only attempting to win their second game in a row but put a dent in the Red Wings playoff chances.
While the Red Wings were playing with a sense of urgency, the Predators could play loose and continue to audition some of their young players.
One of those would be Joonas Rask, who was called up from Milwaukee and was appearing in his first NHL game.
The Predators went with Chris Mason in net, while workhorse Jimmy Howard was in goal for the Wings.
The Predators welcomed back Mike Fisher, who has been out with an injury, and he made his presence felt early as he tallied the first goal of the game off a nice feed from Rich Clune.
The Wings answered with Valtteri Filppula getting free in the low slot and beating Mason with a quick wrist shot.
The Predators took a 2-1 lead on the power play as Shea Weber shoveled the puck to the front of the net. Mike Fisher was in front battling and Craig Smith took a shot that Howard stopped. Smith got his rebound and roofed the puck past Howard.
The first period ended with the Predators leading 2-1 but having to kill off 57 seconds of a Detroit power play to start the second period.
The Wings tied the game just 1:01 into the second period as the power play had just expired. Johan Franzen gathered in a rebound and roofed a shot from a sharp angle.
Patrick Eaves got lost by the Predators defense and whipped a one timer past mason from the face off circle to give the Wings a 3-2 lead. Eaves was all alone as the defense broke down and lost track of the forward in a dangerous scoring position.
The Predators kept playing with fire by taking penalties, and the it burnt them as late in the period the Predators were once again down a man and Pavel Datsyuk skated the puck into the zone and blistered a shot past a screened Chris Mason to make it 4-2.
The Predators gave up 3 goals in the second period through some miscues and sloppy play. If they were going to have a chance to get back into the game, they were going to have to elevate their play.
Through two periods, the Wings had out shot the Predators 25-15.
The injury bug continued to bedevil the Predators, as they lost Matt Halischuk in the second period and for the rest of the game with an upper body injury.
The Predators attempted to get back into the game with some good pressure in the Wings zone but could not get a puck past Howard.
Justin Abdelkader extended the Wings lead to 5-2 late in the period as he buried a rebound past Mason, and any hope the Predators had of climbing back into this game were squelched with that goal.
The game ended with that score as the Predators wilted down the stretch in face of the pressure from a desperate Wings team playing with greater urgency.
Some observations:
Messy Mistakes
The Predators made a game of it early with solid play and good pressure in the Wings zone, but as the game wore on, their mistakes cost them dearly. Too many penalties and some blown coverage in the defensive zone allowed the Wings to get back in the game. Part of this is the presence of the new guys in the line up, and losing Halishcuk in the second period further jumbled the forward lines which didn't help the effort. The Wings were hungry and focused, and they capitalized on the mistakes the Predators made.
Welcome Back Mike
Mike Fisher returned to the line up and made his presence felt with the first goal of the game and was battling all night. It was good to see Fisher back and his effort and leadership on the ice will be a benefit to the young players.
Smith Shows Up
Craig Smith had a goal and an assist, his first points in...forever. Smith played with good jump and went to the hard area in front of the net for his goal. Smith has had a brutal season, but he has not stopped hustling and working. He has the potential to be a very good winger, but this season has been forgettable. hopefully, this is just a very bad sophomore slump and that these points will give him some confidence and get him untracked.
Gotta Have More
David Legwand has 21:18 of ice time; Sergei Kostitsyn had 19:08, the most among the forwards. They combined for 2 shots on goal. The Predators have to get more from these veteran forwards if they are going to be in any game. Tonight, they were invisible, and their offensive drought contributed to the Predators lack of production.
Final Thoughts
The result was about as expected as a team that is fighting to get into the playoffs matched up against a patchwork lineup. The effort by the Predators was spotty and the mistakes were costly. The Predators have one more chance to try to salve some wounds from this awful season.
Hope you bring it, boys.
My three stars;
1. Jimmy Howard
2. Pavel Datsyuk
3. Craig Smith
While the Red Wings were playing with a sense of urgency, the Predators could play loose and continue to audition some of their young players.
One of those would be Joonas Rask, who was called up from Milwaukee and was appearing in his first NHL game.
The Predators went with Chris Mason in net, while workhorse Jimmy Howard was in goal for the Wings.
The Predators welcomed back Mike Fisher, who has been out with an injury, and he made his presence felt early as he tallied the first goal of the game off a nice feed from Rich Clune.
The Wings answered with Valtteri Filppula getting free in the low slot and beating Mason with a quick wrist shot.
The Predators took a 2-1 lead on the power play as Shea Weber shoveled the puck to the front of the net. Mike Fisher was in front battling and Craig Smith took a shot that Howard stopped. Smith got his rebound and roofed the puck past Howard.
The first period ended with the Predators leading 2-1 but having to kill off 57 seconds of a Detroit power play to start the second period.
The Wings tied the game just 1:01 into the second period as the power play had just expired. Johan Franzen gathered in a rebound and roofed a shot from a sharp angle.
Patrick Eaves got lost by the Predators defense and whipped a one timer past mason from the face off circle to give the Wings a 3-2 lead. Eaves was all alone as the defense broke down and lost track of the forward in a dangerous scoring position.
The Predators kept playing with fire by taking penalties, and the it burnt them as late in the period the Predators were once again down a man and Pavel Datsyuk skated the puck into the zone and blistered a shot past a screened Chris Mason to make it 4-2.
The Predators gave up 3 goals in the second period through some miscues and sloppy play. If they were going to have a chance to get back into the game, they were going to have to elevate their play.
Through two periods, the Wings had out shot the Predators 25-15.
The injury bug continued to bedevil the Predators, as they lost Matt Halischuk in the second period and for the rest of the game with an upper body injury.
The Predators attempted to get back into the game with some good pressure in the Wings zone but could not get a puck past Howard.
Justin Abdelkader extended the Wings lead to 5-2 late in the period as he buried a rebound past Mason, and any hope the Predators had of climbing back into this game were squelched with that goal.
The game ended with that score as the Predators wilted down the stretch in face of the pressure from a desperate Wings team playing with greater urgency.
Some observations:
Messy Mistakes
The Predators made a game of it early with solid play and good pressure in the Wings zone, but as the game wore on, their mistakes cost them dearly. Too many penalties and some blown coverage in the defensive zone allowed the Wings to get back in the game. Part of this is the presence of the new guys in the line up, and losing Halishcuk in the second period further jumbled the forward lines which didn't help the effort. The Wings were hungry and focused, and they capitalized on the mistakes the Predators made.
Welcome Back Mike
Mike Fisher returned to the line up and made his presence felt with the first goal of the game and was battling all night. It was good to see Fisher back and his effort and leadership on the ice will be a benefit to the young players.
Smith Shows Up
Craig Smith had a goal and an assist, his first points in...forever. Smith played with good jump and went to the hard area in front of the net for his goal. Smith has had a brutal season, but he has not stopped hustling and working. He has the potential to be a very good winger, but this season has been forgettable. hopefully, this is just a very bad sophomore slump and that these points will give him some confidence and get him untracked.
Gotta Have More
David Legwand has 21:18 of ice time; Sergei Kostitsyn had 19:08, the most among the forwards. They combined for 2 shots on goal. The Predators have to get more from these veteran forwards if they are going to be in any game. Tonight, they were invisible, and their offensive drought contributed to the Predators lack of production.
Final Thoughts
The result was about as expected as a team that is fighting to get into the playoffs matched up against a patchwork lineup. The effort by the Predators was spotty and the mistakes were costly. The Predators have one more chance to try to salve some wounds from this awful season.
Hope you bring it, boys.
My three stars;
1. Jimmy Howard
2. Pavel Datsyuk
3. Craig Smith
Friday, April 12, 2013
Predators Shot Down By the Stars 5-2
The Nashville Predators dropped a 5-2 decision to the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators are fielding a young squad of call ups from Milwaukee, their AHL affiliate, and the results were predictable against a Stars squad that is fighting for the playoffs.
With so many youngsters in the lineup and with the Predators out of playoff contention, the result is, in my view, not as important as the effort and progress that is shown by team.
And there was some good and not so good in that department.
Some observations:
Mason Messy
Chris Mason got the start, and he gave up all five goal. Mace had a .722 save percentage, and while I don't fault him on several of the goals, he was spotty in net. Mason gave up a couple of goals on shots that were stoppable. When Mason was signed, it was hoped that he would give the Predators some quality starts and spell Pekka Rinne. It is safe to say that this experiment is a failure.
Hornqvist Hustling
I like the hustle and heart of Patric Hornqvist. I don't believe that he is fully healed from his injured knee, but his compete level is the best on the team. Hornqvist battles and his motor is always going. Some veterans that are on the team could take a lesson from Hornqvist.
B's Battle
Taylor Beck scored by getting into the high traffic area of the slot. Bobby Butler scored his second goal and played with energy all night. Beck has a lot of potential, and his time with the Predators is good for his development and experience with NHL caliber competition. Butler is playing for a roster spot next season, and he needs to shine in these final games to make a good impression on the coaches.
Vets Vanish
Once again, David Legwand and Sergei Kostitsyn failed to contribute offensively. These two veterans arguably have some of the best offensive talent of any of the players on the roster. They combined for 3 shots on goal, and Kostitsyn even skated himself out of a shot on a breakaway opportunity. With a young roster, these players have to develop a nose for the net. After watching them play throughout the season, this appears to be an impossibility.
Flashes
Austin Watson started to assert himself in front of the net, especially during the power play. Daniel Bang was physical. glimpses into the potential of two young players that are getting valuable experience in a difficult situation.
Final Thoughts
With this roster, the main things I would look for out of this team are heart and effort. I don't fault the effort tonight. The talent gap between an opponent's healthy roster and the young squad the Predators are putting on the ice is apparent and leads to the kind of results we saw tonight. The painful learning experience will pay dividends for this team down the road.
But it is going to be a rough road to travel for a while.
My three stars:
1. Richard Bachman
2.Alex Chiasson
3. Ray Whitney
With so many youngsters in the lineup and with the Predators out of playoff contention, the result is, in my view, not as important as the effort and progress that is shown by team.
And there was some good and not so good in that department.
Some observations:
Mason Messy
Chris Mason got the start, and he gave up all five goal. Mace had a .722 save percentage, and while I don't fault him on several of the goals, he was spotty in net. Mason gave up a couple of goals on shots that were stoppable. When Mason was signed, it was hoped that he would give the Predators some quality starts and spell Pekka Rinne. It is safe to say that this experiment is a failure.
Hornqvist Hustling
I like the hustle and heart of Patric Hornqvist. I don't believe that he is fully healed from his injured knee, but his compete level is the best on the team. Hornqvist battles and his motor is always going. Some veterans that are on the team could take a lesson from Hornqvist.
B's Battle
Taylor Beck scored by getting into the high traffic area of the slot. Bobby Butler scored his second goal and played with energy all night. Beck has a lot of potential, and his time with the Predators is good for his development and experience with NHL caliber competition. Butler is playing for a roster spot next season, and he needs to shine in these final games to make a good impression on the coaches.
Vets Vanish
Once again, David Legwand and Sergei Kostitsyn failed to contribute offensively. These two veterans arguably have some of the best offensive talent of any of the players on the roster. They combined for 3 shots on goal, and Kostitsyn even skated himself out of a shot on a breakaway opportunity. With a young roster, these players have to develop a nose for the net. After watching them play throughout the season, this appears to be an impossibility.
Flashes
Austin Watson started to assert himself in front of the net, especially during the power play. Daniel Bang was physical. glimpses into the potential of two young players that are getting valuable experience in a difficult situation.
Final Thoughts
With this roster, the main things I would look for out of this team are heart and effort. I don't fault the effort tonight. The talent gap between an opponent's healthy roster and the young squad the Predators are putting on the ice is apparent and leads to the kind of results we saw tonight. The painful learning experience will pay dividends for this team down the road.
But it is going to be a rough road to travel for a while.
My three stars:
1. Richard Bachman
2.Alex Chiasson
3. Ray Whitney
Sunday, March 17, 2013
A Look at the Predators: Playoff Contenders or Pretenders
The Nashville Predators are currently 11-11-6 and sit outside the playoffs with 28 points. They have limped through their last 10 games, going 3-6-1, and more troubling, are last in the NHL in scoring.
Predator faithful are questioning if this is a playoff team.
It is a legitimate question.
There is no simple answer to that question, but we can bring some clarity by examining the various components of this team.
So let's take a look at this version of the Predators.
Goaltending
Pekka Rinne has been the workhorse for the Predators, starting 25 of the 28 games the Predators have played. Rinne has a 2.20 GAA and a save percentage of .916. He has faced 632 shots, an average of 25 shots per game. Rinne leads the NHL with 5 shutouts. Last season, Rinne had a 2.39 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Looking at Rinne's numbers, one would conclude they are not bad. A marginal drop off in save percentage, but an improvement in GAA.
Rinne has been pulled in two consecutive games, and in seven in total this season.
There have been times that Rinne has been mortal, but for the most, his play has been solid. What has plagued Rinne has been the defense in front of him on occasion (more on that in a moment), as there have been numerous times that he has been hung out to dry by the skaters in front of him. And at times, his frustration has boiled over. Witness his slamming of the stick on the post in the first Dallas game as Scott Hannan was beaten badly by a Stars forward in the slot, leaving Rinne no chance to make the save.
One has to wonder how Rinne's frustration level is at this point of the season.
With the Predators anemic offense, both Rinne and Chris Mason have to be nearly perfect for the Predators to have a chance to win each night.
Chris Mason has appeared in 7 games, having started 3. He has a pedestrian 3.10 GAA and an .881 save percentage.
When Mason was signed, it was hoped that he would provide quality goaltending in the backup role. At best, he has been average.
Compared to last season, goaltending is comparable.
Defense
The obvious challenge for the Predators was to replace Ryan Suter. Roman Josi has been that player that has manned the other side of the blue line with Shea Weber. Josi is not Ryan Suter- yet. But the fall off between Josi and Suter has not been as dramatic as many feared. Josi has a great shot, skates well, and is poised and calm with the puck. Through 28 games, Josi is a plus 3 and has 3 goals and 6 assists. Extrapolate that to an 82 game season and you get 9 goals, 18 assists, and a plus 9. In Suter's last season, he had 7 goals, 39 assists, and was a plus 15.
I think those numbers for Josi will only improve.
In 2012, Shea Weber had 19 goals, 30 assists, and was a plus 21. So far in 2013, Weber has 4 goals, 11 assists, and is a plus 4. Over an 82 game season, this would translate to 12 goals, 32 assists, and a plus 12. The decline is understandable as Weber is getting used to a new defense partner and is being denied his cannon shot on the power play.
Kevin Klein has been quietly solid, with 1 goal, 5 assists, and a plus one. Klein is steady and is rarely noticed, which is a good thing as it means he is efficiently doing his job.
Once you get past these three, it gets interesting on the Predators blue line.
Hal Gill, who was expected to eat up big minutes, has been injured for a large portion of the season.
Ryan Ellis is...an adventure. Offensively gifted, he is proving to be a defensive liability. The coaches do a good job of trying to keep him away from the top forwards of the other teams, but Ellis is still a minus 4. While Ellis can provide some offense, he is regularly out muscled by bigger forwards, thus relegating him to more of a specialists role.
Jonathan Blum has gotten stronger, but is still on the smallish side, which is an obvious disadvantage against bigger forwards. Blum has five points (1G-4A) in 15 games, but has been relegated to a perma scratch over the last five games.
The reason for that is the emergence of Victor Bartley. Bartley was called up from Milwaukee and has been in the lineup for the past 5 games. Bartley has no points and is a plus 1, but he has good size, skates well, and makes good decisions with the puck. I don't see Bartley coming out of the lineup the way he is playing.
The blueliner that is having an absolutely miserable season is Scott Hannan. Hannan started well, playing some quality minutes and was generally solid. It seems as if Hannan has now run out of gas. He is a team worst minus 11 and is struggling with defensive coverage. He is routinely beaten in the defensive zone, and has quickly turned into a liability.
With the absence of Hal Gill, the defense has struggled once you get past Josi, Weber, and Klein. I think Bartley will settle in and be a positive contributor, but there is a huge hole in the third pairing, typically Hannan and Ellis. The play of that third pairing continues to trouble the Predators and does not look to improve any time soon.
The defense is weaker than last season.
Forwards
Being last in the NHL in scoring is indicative of how this group has struggled.
And struggle they have.
At times, some of our top forwards have been invisible. And for a team that desperately needs offense, this is unacceptable.
And beyond explanation.
Here are some numbers:
Marty Erat 2012: 71 GP 19G-39A 58 points 2013 27 GP 3G-10A 13 points (9G-30A in 82)
Sergei Kostitsyn 2012: 75 GP 17G-26A 43 points 2013 27 GP 2G- 9A 11 points (6G-27A in 82)
David Legwand 2012: 78 GP 19G-34A 53 points 2013 28 GP 6G- 7A 13 points (18G-20A in 82)
Mike Fisher 2012: 72 GP 24G-27A 51 points 2013 28 GP 6G-6A 12 points (18G-18A in 82)
Colin Wilson 2012: 68 GP 15G-20A 35 points 2013 25 GP 7G-12A 19 points (23G-39A in 82)
Gabriel Bourque 2012: 43 GP 7G-12A 19 points 2013 26 GP 9G- 2A 11 points (28G- 6A in 82)
I have taken the production of these forwards for the games played in 2013 and projected it to an 82 game season and compared it to the previous season. What you notice is significant drops in production from Erat, Kostitsyn, and Fisher. Legwand projects to be about the same in goals but significantly drops in assists. For a second line center that has to set up his wingers, this will affect their production. Wilson has stepped up his game, but is currently injured. Bourque shows a significant increase in goal production. The Predators have had Patric Hornqvist in the lineup for only 14 games this season, and his production is sorely missed.
Additionally, The Predators enjoyed good secondary scoring from players like Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling in 2012. Halischuk had 15 goals and 13 assists in 73 games last year. This season, he has struggled to stay on the roster and produce, having appeared in 19 games with 1 goal and 4 assists. Spaling appeared in 77 games last season with 10 goals and 12 assists. In 2013, Spals has appeared in 27 games and has 5 goals and 3 assists.
The slump in offensive production has plagued the Predators all season. Unless the production from the forwards improves significantly, the playoffs may not happen.
The forwards are substantially worse than last season.
Coaching
Barry Trotz continues as the coach that has been able to squeeze the most out of his talent, but this season, that talent has not produced. I like the way Trotz and the staff have coached this team, but if there is a criticism, it is sticking with non-producing players for too long. He scratched Kostitsyn in the last game, but is not quick to sit down other players that are not getting it done. Perhaps it is time to sit some of the other forwards that are not playing up to their talent level.
Coaching has remained steady from last season.
General Manager
David Poile has put this team together and these are his draft picks and trades. Is Poile "married" to these players- loath to trade some of them for other options because they are his players? I would submit that this is the case and that he is waiting, perhaps for too long, for some of these players to validate his decisions to sign them, and to sign some to long term, high dollar extensions.
Time for David Poile to make some tough decisions.
As you can see, the Predators are struggling because of the offense slump by key cogs on the team. If the play doesn't improve substantially, or if these players continue in the lineup, the Predator faithful may be looking wistfully at the the playoffs.
Predator faithful are questioning if this is a playoff team.
It is a legitimate question.
There is no simple answer to that question, but we can bring some clarity by examining the various components of this team.
So let's take a look at this version of the Predators.
Goaltending
Pekka Rinne has been the workhorse for the Predators, starting 25 of the 28 games the Predators have played. Rinne has a 2.20 GAA and a save percentage of .916. He has faced 632 shots, an average of 25 shots per game. Rinne leads the NHL with 5 shutouts. Last season, Rinne had a 2.39 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Looking at Rinne's numbers, one would conclude they are not bad. A marginal drop off in save percentage, but an improvement in GAA.
Rinne has been pulled in two consecutive games, and in seven in total this season.
There have been times that Rinne has been mortal, but for the most, his play has been solid. What has plagued Rinne has been the defense in front of him on occasion (more on that in a moment), as there have been numerous times that he has been hung out to dry by the skaters in front of him. And at times, his frustration has boiled over. Witness his slamming of the stick on the post in the first Dallas game as Scott Hannan was beaten badly by a Stars forward in the slot, leaving Rinne no chance to make the save.
One has to wonder how Rinne's frustration level is at this point of the season.
With the Predators anemic offense, both Rinne and Chris Mason have to be nearly perfect for the Predators to have a chance to win each night.
Chris Mason has appeared in 7 games, having started 3. He has a pedestrian 3.10 GAA and an .881 save percentage.
When Mason was signed, it was hoped that he would provide quality goaltending in the backup role. At best, he has been average.
Compared to last season, goaltending is comparable.
Defense
The obvious challenge for the Predators was to replace Ryan Suter. Roman Josi has been that player that has manned the other side of the blue line with Shea Weber. Josi is not Ryan Suter- yet. But the fall off between Josi and Suter has not been as dramatic as many feared. Josi has a great shot, skates well, and is poised and calm with the puck. Through 28 games, Josi is a plus 3 and has 3 goals and 6 assists. Extrapolate that to an 82 game season and you get 9 goals, 18 assists, and a plus 9. In Suter's last season, he had 7 goals, 39 assists, and was a plus 15.
I think those numbers for Josi will only improve.
In 2012, Shea Weber had 19 goals, 30 assists, and was a plus 21. So far in 2013, Weber has 4 goals, 11 assists, and is a plus 4. Over an 82 game season, this would translate to 12 goals, 32 assists, and a plus 12. The decline is understandable as Weber is getting used to a new defense partner and is being denied his cannon shot on the power play.
Kevin Klein has been quietly solid, with 1 goal, 5 assists, and a plus one. Klein is steady and is rarely noticed, which is a good thing as it means he is efficiently doing his job.
Once you get past these three, it gets interesting on the Predators blue line.
Hal Gill, who was expected to eat up big minutes, has been injured for a large portion of the season.
Ryan Ellis is...an adventure. Offensively gifted, he is proving to be a defensive liability. The coaches do a good job of trying to keep him away from the top forwards of the other teams, but Ellis is still a minus 4. While Ellis can provide some offense, he is regularly out muscled by bigger forwards, thus relegating him to more of a specialists role.
Jonathan Blum has gotten stronger, but is still on the smallish side, which is an obvious disadvantage against bigger forwards. Blum has five points (1G-4A) in 15 games, but has been relegated to a perma scratch over the last five games.
The reason for that is the emergence of Victor Bartley. Bartley was called up from Milwaukee and has been in the lineup for the past 5 games. Bartley has no points and is a plus 1, but he has good size, skates well, and makes good decisions with the puck. I don't see Bartley coming out of the lineup the way he is playing.
The blueliner that is having an absolutely miserable season is Scott Hannan. Hannan started well, playing some quality minutes and was generally solid. It seems as if Hannan has now run out of gas. He is a team worst minus 11 and is struggling with defensive coverage. He is routinely beaten in the defensive zone, and has quickly turned into a liability.
With the absence of Hal Gill, the defense has struggled once you get past Josi, Weber, and Klein. I think Bartley will settle in and be a positive contributor, but there is a huge hole in the third pairing, typically Hannan and Ellis. The play of that third pairing continues to trouble the Predators and does not look to improve any time soon.
The defense is weaker than last season.
Forwards
Being last in the NHL in scoring is indicative of how this group has struggled.
And struggle they have.
At times, some of our top forwards have been invisible. And for a team that desperately needs offense, this is unacceptable.
And beyond explanation.
Here are some numbers:
Marty Erat 2012: 71 GP 19G-39A 58 points 2013 27 GP 3G-10A 13 points (9G-30A in 82)
Sergei Kostitsyn 2012: 75 GP 17G-26A 43 points 2013 27 GP 2G- 9A 11 points (6G-27A in 82)
David Legwand 2012: 78 GP 19G-34A 53 points 2013 28 GP 6G- 7A 13 points (18G-20A in 82)
Mike Fisher 2012: 72 GP 24G-27A 51 points 2013 28 GP 6G-6A 12 points (18G-18A in 82)
Colin Wilson 2012: 68 GP 15G-20A 35 points 2013 25 GP 7G-12A 19 points (23G-39A in 82)
Gabriel Bourque 2012: 43 GP 7G-12A 19 points 2013 26 GP 9G- 2A 11 points (28G- 6A in 82)
I have taken the production of these forwards for the games played in 2013 and projected it to an 82 game season and compared it to the previous season. What you notice is significant drops in production from Erat, Kostitsyn, and Fisher. Legwand projects to be about the same in goals but significantly drops in assists. For a second line center that has to set up his wingers, this will affect their production. Wilson has stepped up his game, but is currently injured. Bourque shows a significant increase in goal production. The Predators have had Patric Hornqvist in the lineup for only 14 games this season, and his production is sorely missed.
Additionally, The Predators enjoyed good secondary scoring from players like Matt Halischuk and Nick Spaling in 2012. Halischuk had 15 goals and 13 assists in 73 games last year. This season, he has struggled to stay on the roster and produce, having appeared in 19 games with 1 goal and 4 assists. Spaling appeared in 77 games last season with 10 goals and 12 assists. In 2013, Spals has appeared in 27 games and has 5 goals and 3 assists.
The slump in offensive production has plagued the Predators all season. Unless the production from the forwards improves significantly, the playoffs may not happen.
The forwards are substantially worse than last season.
Coaching
Barry Trotz continues as the coach that has been able to squeeze the most out of his talent, but this season, that talent has not produced. I like the way Trotz and the staff have coached this team, but if there is a criticism, it is sticking with non-producing players for too long. He scratched Kostitsyn in the last game, but is not quick to sit down other players that are not getting it done. Perhaps it is time to sit some of the other forwards that are not playing up to their talent level.
Coaching has remained steady from last season.
General Manager
David Poile has put this team together and these are his draft picks and trades. Is Poile "married" to these players- loath to trade some of them for other options because they are his players? I would submit that this is the case and that he is waiting, perhaps for too long, for some of these players to validate his decisions to sign them, and to sign some to long term, high dollar extensions.
Time for David Poile to make some tough decisions.
As you can see, the Predators are struggling because of the offense slump by key cogs on the team. If the play doesn't improve substantially, or if these players continue in the lineup, the Predator faithful may be looking wistfully at the the playoffs.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Mistakes Sink the Predators Against the Canucks
The Nashville Predators continued a critical five game road trip in Vancouver to face the Canucks. The Predators were looking to build on the momentum of a win in Dallas in the first game of this swing, and the task was going to be difficult as Rogers Arena has not been a hospitable place for the Predators.
The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Canucks went with Roberto Luongo.
The game was a wild affair, with the Predators making numerous mistakes and those aforementioned mistakes wound up in the back of the predators net.
Yet the Predators, facing a monumental deficit going into the third period continued to battle back before eventually falling to the Canucks by a 7-4 margin.
While that sounds like the Canucks ran away with the game, the Predators scrambled back in the third period to draw within a a one goal margin at 5-4. The Canucks stretched the margin to 6-4 on a penalty shot by Henrik Sedin and the final score was an empty net goal by David Booth.
Some observations:
Rinne...Wasn't Rinne
After pitching a shutout in his previous game, Rinne gave up 4 goals on 12 shots. I don't fault Rinne on all of the goals he allowed, but he wasn't as sharp as he usually is. The Predators have to have near perfection from Rinne to win, and tonight, he did not have his best game. Rinne was pulled early in the second period in favor of Chris Mason.
The Young Pups Were The Leaders
Matt Halischuk had a goal and an assist; Nick Spaling had a goal; and Gabriel Bourque tallied his team leading 8th goal, which was a beauty. The young guys brought a 60 minute effort and stepped up their game when the Predators were in danger of being run out of the barn. It bodes well for the Predators that the youngsters are producing and contributing solid minutes. Maybe some of the veterans can take a cue from the play of these young players.
Mike Fisher Is Quietly Playing Some Solid Hockey
Fisher had a goal and has been leading with hustle and physical play. After a slow start to his season, Fisher has been consistent and solid. Again, there are some players on the roster that should follow his example.
Can Marty Erat Find His Game?
Let's face it- Marty is having a miserable season. He has been a passenger for most of the season and has contributed nothing to this team. Marty has too much talent to be this unproductive, but the sad fact remains that the team needs Marty and he is nowhere to be found. If the Predators are going to have success in the regular season, much less the playoffs, Marty is going to have to contribute. The question is how much longer can the coaching staff continue to allow Marty to have big minutes without any production?
How Long Before...
we see Austin Watson or Taylor Beck make an appearance? They are having stellar campaigns in Milwaukee and appear ready to make the jump to the big club. With players such as Erat, David Legwand, and Sergei Kostitsyn not contributing, the Predators may be ready to give these guys a shot at producing on the NHL level.
Final Thoughts
This game looked like it was going to get even uglier than it was going into the third period. Kudos to team for showing some heart and battling back. Like any fan, I don't like the loss, but there are positives on which to build. There was fight and grit in this team, and they kept pressing and scrapping to get back into the game. At 5-4, this was anyones game. By not folding their tent, the Predators showed that they can battle back against bleak odds.
Build on that, boys.
You will need to draw on that positive in upcoming games.
My three stars:
1.Jannik Hansen
2. Andrew Ebbett
3. Matt Halischuk
The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Canucks went with Roberto Luongo.
The game was a wild affair, with the Predators making numerous mistakes and those aforementioned mistakes wound up in the back of the predators net.
Yet the Predators, facing a monumental deficit going into the third period continued to battle back before eventually falling to the Canucks by a 7-4 margin.
While that sounds like the Canucks ran away with the game, the Predators scrambled back in the third period to draw within a a one goal margin at 5-4. The Canucks stretched the margin to 6-4 on a penalty shot by Henrik Sedin and the final score was an empty net goal by David Booth.
Some observations:
Rinne...Wasn't Rinne
After pitching a shutout in his previous game, Rinne gave up 4 goals on 12 shots. I don't fault Rinne on all of the goals he allowed, but he wasn't as sharp as he usually is. The Predators have to have near perfection from Rinne to win, and tonight, he did not have his best game. Rinne was pulled early in the second period in favor of Chris Mason.
The Young Pups Were The Leaders
Matt Halischuk had a goal and an assist; Nick Spaling had a goal; and Gabriel Bourque tallied his team leading 8th goal, which was a beauty. The young guys brought a 60 minute effort and stepped up their game when the Predators were in danger of being run out of the barn. It bodes well for the Predators that the youngsters are producing and contributing solid minutes. Maybe some of the veterans can take a cue from the play of these young players.
Mike Fisher Is Quietly Playing Some Solid Hockey
Fisher had a goal and has been leading with hustle and physical play. After a slow start to his season, Fisher has been consistent and solid. Again, there are some players on the roster that should follow his example.
Can Marty Erat Find His Game?
Let's face it- Marty is having a miserable season. He has been a passenger for most of the season and has contributed nothing to this team. Marty has too much talent to be this unproductive, but the sad fact remains that the team needs Marty and he is nowhere to be found. If the Predators are going to have success in the regular season, much less the playoffs, Marty is going to have to contribute. The question is how much longer can the coaching staff continue to allow Marty to have big minutes without any production?
How Long Before...
we see Austin Watson or Taylor Beck make an appearance? They are having stellar campaigns in Milwaukee and appear ready to make the jump to the big club. With players such as Erat, David Legwand, and Sergei Kostitsyn not contributing, the Predators may be ready to give these guys a shot at producing on the NHL level.
Final Thoughts
This game looked like it was going to get even uglier than it was going into the third period. Kudos to team for showing some heart and battling back. Like any fan, I don't like the loss, but there are positives on which to build. There was fight and grit in this team, and they kept pressing and scrapping to get back into the game. At 5-4, this was anyones game. By not folding their tent, the Predators showed that they can battle back against bleak odds.
Build on that, boys.
You will need to draw on that positive in upcoming games.
My three stars:
1.Jannik Hansen
2. Andrew Ebbett
3. Matt Halischuk
Monday, February 18, 2013
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 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
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.
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
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Predators Fall to the Wild in OT 2-1
The Nashville Predators dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. The Predators were down a man in the extra period on an absolutely horrible call against Paul Gaustad. The officials deemed that Gaustad closed his hand on the puck in a defensive zone face off, thus sending him to the box. Replays clearly showed that when the puck bounced off the ice, it hit the back of his glove and Gaustad had both hands on the stick.
So be it. Horrible calls are part of the game, but the Predators certainly hated to lose the game in this manner.
Gaustad staked the Predators to a 1-0 lead by crashing the net and tipping home a Craig Smith shot off the rebound from Niklas Backstrom in the first period.
The Wild tied the game in the second period as a Ryan Suter shot from the the point was deflected by Cal Clutterbuck and through the five hole of Nashville netminder Chris Mason.
In the OT and with the man advantage, Devin Setogochi ripped a shot past Mason for the game winner.
I missed about half the game as I was at my son's hockey game, but here are some observations from what I did see:
The Preds will get a chance to get back on the horse quickly, as the powerful Blackhawks come to town tomorrow night.
Be prepared to bring it boys.
My three stars:
1. Devin Setoguchi
2. Chris Mason
3. Niklas Backstrom
So be it. Horrible calls are part of the game, but the Predators certainly hated to lose the game in this manner.
Gaustad staked the Predators to a 1-0 lead by crashing the net and tipping home a Craig Smith shot off the rebound from Niklas Backstrom in the first period.
The Wild tied the game in the second period as a Ryan Suter shot from the the point was deflected by Cal Clutterbuck and through the five hole of Nashville netminder Chris Mason.
In the OT and with the man advantage, Devin Setogochi ripped a shot past Mason for the game winner.
I missed about half the game as I was at my son's hockey game, but here are some observations from what I did see:
- The Predators have a solid back up in Chris Mason. He made some great saves and kept the Predators in the game with his play. The Wild out shot the Predators 32-26, not a wide margin, but Mace had to make some quality saves to keep the Wild off the board. With the compressed schedule and 9 back to backs, having a quality backup like Mason will benefit the Predators.
- The ineffectiveness of the Predators power play was a contributing factor in this loss. The Predators had a 4 minute power play in the the third and could not get a puck past Backstrom. The power play is plagued by little movement and no one in front of the net. Surely Patric Hornqvist is not the only Predator that can establish a presence in front of the net.
- The Predators win games with their aggressive forecheck. When that aspect of their game is not working optimally, the Predators struggle. There were stretches where the forecheck broke down and the team struggled. The Predators have to have a commitment to an aggressive and effective forecheck for 60 minutes.
- The Predators most dynamic forwards the past few games- Colin Wilson and Gabriel Bourque- did not register a shot on goal in this contest. These guys are some of the most offensively minded forwards on the Predators roster and they have to commit to get shots on net and create in the offensive zone.
- David Legwand continues to frustrate me. For the life of me, I cannot understand how a second line center cannot register a shot on net or create offense. I know his supporters will laud his defensive efforts, but for $5 million a year, I expect some offensive production.
The Preds will get a chance to get back on the horse quickly, as the powerful Blackhawks come to town tomorrow night.
Be prepared to bring it boys.
My three stars:
1. Devin Setoguchi
2. Chris Mason
3. Niklas Backstrom
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Predators Pick Up First Regulation Win, Defeat the Wild 3-1
The Nashville Predators ventured out on the road for the first time in this young season, traveling to the XCel Energy Center to take on the Minnesota Wild and former teammate Ryan Suter. While many have focused on the story line of the Predators facing their former co-anchor on the blue line, the real story for the Predators was attempting to elevate their game to the level to which they are accustomed.
For the Predators, Chris Mason was in net and Niklas Backstrom was in net for the Wild.
The Wild opened the scoring at 6:02 of the first period as Dany Heatley skated just inside the Predators blue line and lofted a shot toward the net. The puck appeared to glance off Kevin Klein and re-directed past Mason, who had no chance on the shot.
Once again, the Predators were at a decided territorial disadvantage for most of the first period, being out shot 9-2 through the first 16 minutes.
That would change at 16:31 of the first period as the Predators gained the zone and controlled the puck. Kevin Klein let a shot go from the blue line, and Backstrom was able to block the shot coming through traffic, but Nick Spaling pounced on the rebound and slapped it past the sprawling netminder to tie the game at 1.
The first period ended tied at 1. The Wild out shot the Predators 12-5.
For the Predators, their struggles to clear the zone and establish offensive zone presence continues to be a problem. However, they were able to capitalize on some puck possession time to tie the game, and it was good to see Spaling get on the score sheet. The Predators have to have production from their third and fourth lines.
The Predators also welcomed back Gabriel Bourque, and he was dynamic. He had a break away chance that was stopped by Backstrom, but was on the ice and kept the puck alive for the Predators goal.
The second period would open with 4 on 4 hockey as Patric Hornqvist for the Predators and Mikko Koivu picked up coincidental minors for roughing at the end of the first period.
The Predators opened the second period with better jump and created some chances with traffic to the net. They had a chance to take advantage of a Minnesota penalty with their first power play of the game, but quickly short circuited that effort as Shea Weber was called for interference just 20 seconds into the man advantage.
The Predators had a much better effort throughout the second period. The Predators got their legs and skated much better, and this was reflected in the shots on goal as the Predators out shot the Wild 10-7. While the Predators created some scoring chances, the Wild did as well, and both netminders came up with some good saves to keep the game tied.
The second period ended with the Predators killing off a Brandon Yip roughing penalty, and the Wild would open the third period with a fresh sheet of ice and 1:17 of man advantage time.
The Predators opened the third period by killing off the Yip penalty, but the Wild used the man advantage to quickly re-establish their offensive zone presence, and the Predators were once again having difficulty establishing their offense.
Although the Wild had stretches of the game in the third period where they were clearly skating better and stronger on the puck, the Predators kept pushing and their effort was rewarded as the puck was chipped out of the defensive zone and into open ice. Marty Erat was in pursuit but Backstrom came out of the net and beat Erat to the puck. His clearing attempt from between the face off circles hit Erat in the chest, and he was able to get control of the puck and stuff it into the open net to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 11:45.
An improbable goal?
Absolutely!
But a goal from effort and hustle, a goal that came from not wilting under the pressure the Wild were putting on the Predators.
The Predators continued to withstand the pressure from the Wild and thwarted their scoring chances. Chris Mason came up with some big saves to keep the Wild off the board.
With Backstrom pulled for the extra attacker, the Wild were pressuring the Predators when they were called for slashing with 23 seconds remaining. On the ensuing power play, the Predators capitalized as David Legwand took a nice pass from Nick Spaling and buried the one timer to give the Predators a 3-1 lead and their first regulation win of the season.
This was a character win as the Predators withstood the pressure the Wild brought throughout the game and persevered in a hostile environment.
As the game wore on, the Predators begin to assert themselves. After a slow first period in which the Preds were out shot 12-5, the Predators out shot the Wild 21-18 over the final two periods. This is the type of win that the team can use to build their confidence and their belief in their system and each other.
They will need it in this short season.
My three stars:
1. Chris Mason
2. Nick Spaling
3. Marty Erat
For the Predators, Chris Mason was in net and Niklas Backstrom was in net for the Wild.
The Wild opened the scoring at 6:02 of the first period as Dany Heatley skated just inside the Predators blue line and lofted a shot toward the net. The puck appeared to glance off Kevin Klein and re-directed past Mason, who had no chance on the shot.
Once again, the Predators were at a decided territorial disadvantage for most of the first period, being out shot 9-2 through the first 16 minutes.
That would change at 16:31 of the first period as the Predators gained the zone and controlled the puck. Kevin Klein let a shot go from the blue line, and Backstrom was able to block the shot coming through traffic, but Nick Spaling pounced on the rebound and slapped it past the sprawling netminder to tie the game at 1.
The first period ended tied at 1. The Wild out shot the Predators 12-5.
For the Predators, their struggles to clear the zone and establish offensive zone presence continues to be a problem. However, they were able to capitalize on some puck possession time to tie the game, and it was good to see Spaling get on the score sheet. The Predators have to have production from their third and fourth lines.
The Predators also welcomed back Gabriel Bourque, and he was dynamic. He had a break away chance that was stopped by Backstrom, but was on the ice and kept the puck alive for the Predators goal.
The second period would open with 4 on 4 hockey as Patric Hornqvist for the Predators and Mikko Koivu picked up coincidental minors for roughing at the end of the first period.
The Predators opened the second period with better jump and created some chances with traffic to the net. They had a chance to take advantage of a Minnesota penalty with their first power play of the game, but quickly short circuited that effort as Shea Weber was called for interference just 20 seconds into the man advantage.
The Predators had a much better effort throughout the second period. The Predators got their legs and skated much better, and this was reflected in the shots on goal as the Predators out shot the Wild 10-7. While the Predators created some scoring chances, the Wild did as well, and both netminders came up with some good saves to keep the game tied.
The second period ended with the Predators killing off a Brandon Yip roughing penalty, and the Wild would open the third period with a fresh sheet of ice and 1:17 of man advantage time.
The Predators opened the third period by killing off the Yip penalty, but the Wild used the man advantage to quickly re-establish their offensive zone presence, and the Predators were once again having difficulty establishing their offense.
Although the Wild had stretches of the game in the third period where they were clearly skating better and stronger on the puck, the Predators kept pushing and their effort was rewarded as the puck was chipped out of the defensive zone and into open ice. Marty Erat was in pursuit but Backstrom came out of the net and beat Erat to the puck. His clearing attempt from between the face off circles hit Erat in the chest, and he was able to get control of the puck and stuff it into the open net to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 11:45.
An improbable goal?
Absolutely!
But a goal from effort and hustle, a goal that came from not wilting under the pressure the Wild were putting on the Predators.
The Predators continued to withstand the pressure from the Wild and thwarted their scoring chances. Chris Mason came up with some big saves to keep the Wild off the board.
With Backstrom pulled for the extra attacker, the Wild were pressuring the Predators when they were called for slashing with 23 seconds remaining. On the ensuing power play, the Predators capitalized as David Legwand took a nice pass from Nick Spaling and buried the one timer to give the Predators a 3-1 lead and their first regulation win of the season.
This was a character win as the Predators withstood the pressure the Wild brought throughout the game and persevered in a hostile environment.
As the game wore on, the Predators begin to assert themselves. After a slow first period in which the Preds were out shot 12-5, the Predators out shot the Wild 21-18 over the final two periods. This is the type of win that the team can use to build their confidence and their belief in their system and each other.
They will need it in this short season.
My three stars:
1. Chris Mason
2. Nick Spaling
3. Marty Erat
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Thrashers Trashed by the Predators 6-3
The Nashville Predators haven't clinched a playoff spot yet, and the three remaining games on their schedule are important. The Predators played with a sense of urgency and knowledge of how important these games are as they jumped out to 5 goal lead en route to a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at the Bridgestone Arena.
Early in the contest, the Thrashers did a good job of clogging the neutral zone and stifling the Predators offensive flow. In fact, the Thrashers had a bit more jump than the Predators at the outset. The Predators are a team that continues to push, however, and they kept challenging the Thrashers defense, probing for an opportunity to get the puck in the net.
They would cash in on their efforts at 5:24 of the first period as Jordin Tootoo shot the puck and Atlanta netminder Chris Mason kicked the puck out with his pad to Matt Halischuk driving into the low slot. Halischuk slid a backhand shot five hole for the game's first tally.
The rest of the first period was a back and forth affair, with both mason and Pekka Rinne making solid saves to keep the score 1-0.
Jordin Tootoo would change that at 19:18 as he would gather in the rebound of a Marty Erat shot and fire the puck past Mason to make it 2-0 Predators. Tootoo would take advantage of Nik Antropov's failure to clear the puck that was lying in the blue paint after a save by Mason and would tap the puck into the net.
The Predators were energized by that goal and would keep the pressure on the Thrashers. Mike Fisher controlled the puck behind the net and found Sergei Kostitsyn driving to the front of the net. Kostitsyn sent a wrist shot toward Mason that got under his arm and inside the far post to make it 3-0 with just .8 left on the clock.
Every Predator fan remembers what happened the last time we had a 3 goal lead, don't you? Sit back and let the other team dictate the play and watch the lead slip away. The question on the home crowd's mind was would we see a replay?
The answer was an emphatic "no".
Jordin Tootoo tallied his second goal of the night to make it 4-0 Predators at 1:56 of the second period. Matt Halischuk sent the puck toward the net, where it was tipped by a Thrasher defender and off Tootoo's skate for the goal. The beauty of that play was that the Predators put the puck on the net with traffic going to the front and they were rewarded.
Simple hockey. Effective hockey.
Mason was pulled after allowing 4 goals on 16 shots and Ondrej Pavelec was brought in to face the onslaught.
Pavelec held the Predators off the board for the remainder of the second period. Rinne was equally effective, and at the end of 2 periods, it was 4-0 Predators.
Sergei Kostitsyn welcomed Pavelec to the party at 2:28 of the third period as he took a beautiful pass from Cody Franson from the point and tapped the puck into the open net to make it 5-0 Predators. Kostitsyn had worked himself open at the side of the net and the Atlanta defense lost track of him. Franson had his head up and the pass was cross ice and right on the tape. On the play, Pavelec had no chance as the defense left Kostitsyn alone in prime scoring position.
Shoot the puck and go to the net. Simple hockey. Effective hockey.
Atlanta finally solved Rinne at 3:06 of the third as Blake Wheeler beat Rinne high glove side with a beautiful shot into a very narrow space.
The Predators would answer at 6:18 of the period on the power play as Kostitsyn found Mike Fisher driving to the net behind the Thrasher defense and hit him with a pass on his tape. Fisher slammed the puck into the open net to make it 6-1 Predators.
The Thrashers would add 2 late goals as Blake Wheeler would score at 16:25. Rinne was screened by Patric Hornqvist and did not see the shot until the last minute. Nik Antropov would score at 17:10 to make the score 6-3. The Predators changed line matchups late in the game and had their 4th line out against the 2nd line of the Thrashers, which contributed to the final Atlanta goal.
When scoring 3 or more goals, the Predators are 40-4-2. When scoring first, the Preds are 29-5-8.
With the win, the Predators currently are 4th in the Western Conference with a record of 43-26-11, good for 97 points. With one point in their final two games, or with a Dallas loss, the Predators are assured of a playoff spot.
This game points out the way the Predators have to win games: shoot the puck and drive to the net. When they do this, they generate scoring opportunities and are effective.
It really is a simple game.
Two games left. Time to lock down a playoff spot. Keep playing the way you did tonight and it will be yours.
It's simple.
My three stars:
1. Jordin Tootoo
2. Sergei Kostitsyn
3. Patric Hornqvist
Honorable mention: Matt Halischuk
Early in the contest, the Thrashers did a good job of clogging the neutral zone and stifling the Predators offensive flow. In fact, the Thrashers had a bit more jump than the Predators at the outset. The Predators are a team that continues to push, however, and they kept challenging the Thrashers defense, probing for an opportunity to get the puck in the net.
They would cash in on their efforts at 5:24 of the first period as Jordin Tootoo shot the puck and Atlanta netminder Chris Mason kicked the puck out with his pad to Matt Halischuk driving into the low slot. Halischuk slid a backhand shot five hole for the game's first tally.
The rest of the first period was a back and forth affair, with both mason and Pekka Rinne making solid saves to keep the score 1-0.
Jordin Tootoo would change that at 19:18 as he would gather in the rebound of a Marty Erat shot and fire the puck past Mason to make it 2-0 Predators. Tootoo would take advantage of Nik Antropov's failure to clear the puck that was lying in the blue paint after a save by Mason and would tap the puck into the net.
The Predators were energized by that goal and would keep the pressure on the Thrashers. Mike Fisher controlled the puck behind the net and found Sergei Kostitsyn driving to the front of the net. Kostitsyn sent a wrist shot toward Mason that got under his arm and inside the far post to make it 3-0 with just .8 left on the clock.
Every Predator fan remembers what happened the last time we had a 3 goal lead, don't you? Sit back and let the other team dictate the play and watch the lead slip away. The question on the home crowd's mind was would we see a replay?
The answer was an emphatic "no".
Jordin Tootoo tallied his second goal of the night to make it 4-0 Predators at 1:56 of the second period. Matt Halischuk sent the puck toward the net, where it was tipped by a Thrasher defender and off Tootoo's skate for the goal. The beauty of that play was that the Predators put the puck on the net with traffic going to the front and they were rewarded.
Simple hockey. Effective hockey.
Mason was pulled after allowing 4 goals on 16 shots and Ondrej Pavelec was brought in to face the onslaught.
Pavelec held the Predators off the board for the remainder of the second period. Rinne was equally effective, and at the end of 2 periods, it was 4-0 Predators.
Sergei Kostitsyn welcomed Pavelec to the party at 2:28 of the third period as he took a beautiful pass from Cody Franson from the point and tapped the puck into the open net to make it 5-0 Predators. Kostitsyn had worked himself open at the side of the net and the Atlanta defense lost track of him. Franson had his head up and the pass was cross ice and right on the tape. On the play, Pavelec had no chance as the defense left Kostitsyn alone in prime scoring position.
Shoot the puck and go to the net. Simple hockey. Effective hockey.
Atlanta finally solved Rinne at 3:06 of the third as Blake Wheeler beat Rinne high glove side with a beautiful shot into a very narrow space.
The Predators would answer at 6:18 of the period on the power play as Kostitsyn found Mike Fisher driving to the net behind the Thrasher defense and hit him with a pass on his tape. Fisher slammed the puck into the open net to make it 6-1 Predators.
The Thrashers would add 2 late goals as Blake Wheeler would score at 16:25. Rinne was screened by Patric Hornqvist and did not see the shot until the last minute. Nik Antropov would score at 17:10 to make the score 6-3. The Predators changed line matchups late in the game and had their 4th line out against the 2nd line of the Thrashers, which contributed to the final Atlanta goal.
When scoring 3 or more goals, the Predators are 40-4-2. When scoring first, the Preds are 29-5-8.
With the win, the Predators currently are 4th in the Western Conference with a record of 43-26-11, good for 97 points. With one point in their final two games, or with a Dallas loss, the Predators are assured of a playoff spot.
This game points out the way the Predators have to win games: shoot the puck and drive to the net. When they do this, they generate scoring opportunities and are effective.
It really is a simple game.
Two games left. Time to lock down a playoff spot. Keep playing the way you did tonight and it will be yours.
It's simple.
My three stars:
1. Jordin Tootoo
2. Sergei Kostitsyn
3. Patric Hornqvist
Honorable mention: Matt Halischuk
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