The Nashville Predators put up a valiant effort before falling to the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at the Bridgestone Arena. The Canucks now lead the series 3-1 and can close out the Predators in Vancouver on Saturday night.
The Predators opened with good jump and pressured the Canucks early in the contest. They were unable to get any pucks past Vancouver netminder Roberto Luongo, while his counterpart, Pekka Rinne, was perfect in net for the Predators.
That would change at 15:04 of the first period as Christian Ehrhoff would launch a shot from the blue line. Rinne was clipped by Alex Burrows and the shot found the back of the net. There was no call on the play as it was deemed by referee Kelly Sutherland that the contact was incidental and that Rinne was outside the blue paint.
Definitely a questionable call, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Joel Ward would tie the game on the power play at 19:18 of the first period. Wardo was camped at the top of the blue paint and gathered in the rebound of a Cody Franson shot and put the puck through Luongo five hole.
The Canucks would take the lead at 9:43 of the second period as Alex Edler would pot his second goal of the playoffs with a wrist shot that beat Rinne.
The Predators answered at 3:27 of the third period as Cody Franson's bullet from the blue line eluded Luongo, and for a moment the officials. Everyone searched for the puck, and lo and behold it was in the back of the net. The tying score sent the partisan home crowd into a frenzy and gave the Predator faithful hope that they could tie the series.
That momentum would ebb away at 7:28 of the third with Ryan Suter in the box for holding, Ryan Kessler would tally a power play goal by splitting the defense and beating Rinne with a wrist shot to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead.
The Predators put good pressure on Luongo, but could not get a puck past him. With Rinne pulled for the extra attacker, Henrik Sedin scored an empty netter for the final margin of victory at 4-2.
The Predators lost Jerred Smithson after the first period after he took a Ryan Kessler elbow to the face. No call was made on the play, and the Predators were down a player that was a key part of their shutdown line. Smithson has already been called out for the game in Vancouver.
It's no secret that the Canucks are a good team. Heck, they are a great team. However, they are beatable if the Predators play their game.
Unfortunately for the Predators, their backs are now against the wall and they have one more opportunity to play their game. By the way, it will be in Vancouver in front of a raucous group of Canucklehead fans.
No small task, eh?
If the Predators focus on playing one game at a time, no, if they focus on playing one shift at a time, and battle the way they have done all season, then they have an opportunity to return the series to Nashville.
It is a steep hill, no doubt. But the Predators have climbed a steep hill all season.
The task is enormous, but the Predators cannot be daunted. They have to play balls to wall for one game. That is the priority. The Canucks are a worthy opponent.
So are we.
So here is your charge, boys.
Win one.
Bring it back to Nashville. Bring it back by playing all out. Win puck battles. Play smart. Play all out.
Play like there is no tomorrow.
Because there isn't.
Showing posts with label Cosy Franson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosy Franson. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Predators Fail to Snuff the Flames, Fall in a Shoot Out 3-2
7:00
60 minutes.
Kill or be killed.
These were the themes of a Predators shootout loss to the Calgary Flames by a score of 3-2 at the Bridgestone Arena. Let's expand expand those themes, shall we?
Although the Predators outshot the Calgary Flames 11-8 in the first period, it appeared early on as if the Predators didn't realize that the game started at 7:00. Calgary came out with much more jump and at the 8:00 minute mark of the first period had outshot the Predators 6-1. Without the solid play of Pekka Rinne, who made some great saves early in the contest, Calgary would have run the Predators out of the barn.
Fortunately, it is a 20 minute period, and the Predators finally woke up. The Predators would tally the game's first goal on their second shot of the game, as Martin Erat took a nice pass from Sergei Kostitsyn, fought off a defender, and slipped a backhand shot between Mikka Kiprusoff and the post to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 7:43 of the first period.
That goal energized the Predators, and they outshot the Flames 9-2 over the remainder of the period. The Predators generated some quality chances, but could not put another puck past Kiprusoff, who was called upon to make some good saves.
60 minutes. The second period was scoreless, with each team putting 6 shots on goal. However, the Flames controlled the puck for much of the second period, and the Predators offense generated zilch in terms of good scoring chances. For much of the second period, it appeared as if the Predators considered it a win if they successfully cleared the defensive zone.
Compounding the problem for the Predators was the fact that they took inopportune penalties, especially penalties that were taken by their top penalty killers. Nick Spaling was tagged with three of the Predators five penalties during the game; Jerred Smithson took one, as did Ryan Suter. Fortunately for the Predators, their stellar penalty kill continued their torrid pace as they killed all of the Calgary man advantage chances.
Kill or be killed. The Predators entered the third period with a 1-0 advantage, and promptly gave up that lead at the 2:57 mark of the third period as Matt Stajan scored on a goal that Pekka Rinne would like to have back. Stajan took an unscreened shot that Rinne let slip between his arm and his body for the tying score. As solid as Rinne was- even spectacular at times with some of his saves- this was a horribly soft goal that seemed to energize the Flames.
Nashville seized the momentum back at 5:24 of the third period when Patric Hornqvist notched his 16th goal of the season on the power play. Hornqvist buried the rebound of a Shea Weber shot while working hard in front of the net, and once again, the Predators had the lead and the chance to put a way the Flames.
Once again, the Predators painfully showed a lack of killer instinct. Rather than snuff the Flames, they let Cory Sarich walk into the slot unmolested and he rifled a shot over the shoulder of Rinne for the tying score at 9:04 of the third.
The Predators had a few other scoring chances but could not get the puck into the net as Kiprusoff made some good saves. The fact is that the offense did not create enough scoring chances and Calgary was able to hold the Predators off the board for the remainder of the period.
The Predators did a good job of limiting Calgary for the remainder of the third period, and we were heading to overtime.
Kill or be killed.
When you have the lead late in a game, you have to put the other team away. The Predators have inexplicably shown an inability to do so recently, as they have given up 8 third period goals in their last five games.
A scoreless overtime period was the result of some good saves by Rinne, as the Predators offense managed only 1 shot on goal and never challenged Kiprsusoff.
Kill or be killed.
Whether playing too cautiously or playing for a point, the fact remains that the Predators had turned from hunters to hunted.
In the shootout, Rene Bourque scored as the first shooter for the Flames. Rinne stopped Alex Tanguay and Ollie Jokinen. Nashville countered with Martin Erat, Cody Franson, and David Legwand. All shot blanks, and Calgary skated away with their third win over the Predators this season.
This is a frustrating loss for the Predators, because they played well in spurts, but did not play a complete game. They picked up a point, but frankly should have had 2.
These are the kind of games that can turn a season. Learn the lessons of this contest: start strong; play a full 60 minutes; and put teams away when you have the opportunity.
Fail to learn these lessons and the results in upcoming contests will be just as painful as tonight's game.
My three stars:
1. Mikka Kiprusoff
2. Matt Stajan
3. Sergei Kostitsyn
60 minutes.
Kill or be killed.
These were the themes of a Predators shootout loss to the Calgary Flames by a score of 3-2 at the Bridgestone Arena. Let's expand expand those themes, shall we?
Although the Predators outshot the Calgary Flames 11-8 in the first period, it appeared early on as if the Predators didn't realize that the game started at 7:00. Calgary came out with much more jump and at the 8:00 minute mark of the first period had outshot the Predators 6-1. Without the solid play of Pekka Rinne, who made some great saves early in the contest, Calgary would have run the Predators out of the barn.
Fortunately, it is a 20 minute period, and the Predators finally woke up. The Predators would tally the game's first goal on their second shot of the game, as Martin Erat took a nice pass from Sergei Kostitsyn, fought off a defender, and slipped a backhand shot between Mikka Kiprusoff and the post to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 7:43 of the first period.
That goal energized the Predators, and they outshot the Flames 9-2 over the remainder of the period. The Predators generated some quality chances, but could not put another puck past Kiprusoff, who was called upon to make some good saves.
60 minutes. The second period was scoreless, with each team putting 6 shots on goal. However, the Flames controlled the puck for much of the second period, and the Predators offense generated zilch in terms of good scoring chances. For much of the second period, it appeared as if the Predators considered it a win if they successfully cleared the defensive zone.
Compounding the problem for the Predators was the fact that they took inopportune penalties, especially penalties that were taken by their top penalty killers. Nick Spaling was tagged with three of the Predators five penalties during the game; Jerred Smithson took one, as did Ryan Suter. Fortunately for the Predators, their stellar penalty kill continued their torrid pace as they killed all of the Calgary man advantage chances.
Kill or be killed. The Predators entered the third period with a 1-0 advantage, and promptly gave up that lead at the 2:57 mark of the third period as Matt Stajan scored on a goal that Pekka Rinne would like to have back. Stajan took an unscreened shot that Rinne let slip between his arm and his body for the tying score. As solid as Rinne was- even spectacular at times with some of his saves- this was a horribly soft goal that seemed to energize the Flames.
Nashville seized the momentum back at 5:24 of the third period when Patric Hornqvist notched his 16th goal of the season on the power play. Hornqvist buried the rebound of a Shea Weber shot while working hard in front of the net, and once again, the Predators had the lead and the chance to put a way the Flames.
Once again, the Predators painfully showed a lack of killer instinct. Rather than snuff the Flames, they let Cory Sarich walk into the slot unmolested and he rifled a shot over the shoulder of Rinne for the tying score at 9:04 of the third.
The Predators had a few other scoring chances but could not get the puck into the net as Kiprusoff made some good saves. The fact is that the offense did not create enough scoring chances and Calgary was able to hold the Predators off the board for the remainder of the period.
The Predators did a good job of limiting Calgary for the remainder of the third period, and we were heading to overtime.
Kill or be killed.
When you have the lead late in a game, you have to put the other team away. The Predators have inexplicably shown an inability to do so recently, as they have given up 8 third period goals in their last five games.
A scoreless overtime period was the result of some good saves by Rinne, as the Predators offense managed only 1 shot on goal and never challenged Kiprsusoff.
Kill or be killed.
Whether playing too cautiously or playing for a point, the fact remains that the Predators had turned from hunters to hunted.
In the shootout, Rene Bourque scored as the first shooter for the Flames. Rinne stopped Alex Tanguay and Ollie Jokinen. Nashville countered with Martin Erat, Cody Franson, and David Legwand. All shot blanks, and Calgary skated away with their third win over the Predators this season.
This is a frustrating loss for the Predators, because they played well in spurts, but did not play a complete game. They picked up a point, but frankly should have had 2.
These are the kind of games that can turn a season. Learn the lessons of this contest: start strong; play a full 60 minutes; and put teams away when you have the opportunity.
Fail to learn these lessons and the results in upcoming contests will be just as painful as tonight's game.
My three stars:
1. Mikka Kiprusoff
2. Matt Stajan
3. Sergei Kostitsyn
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Washington Ekes Out a 3-2 OT Win over the Predators
The Washington Capitals defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime in a game that had some brutal officiating to go along with end to end action. The Predators lead 2-0 going into the third period and gave up two goals in that stanza to take the game to overtime. Brooks Laich redirected an Alexander Ovechkin shot past Nashville netminder Anders Lindback for the game winner at 1:44 of overtime.
The Predators opened the first period with lots of energy and outshot the Caps 18-7. Their effort was rewarded at 17:07 of the period as J.P. Dumont beat Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth high to the stick side with a shot from just inside the face off circle.
The Predators were able to roll four lines in the first and put great forechecking pressure on the Caps throughout the period. That pressure limited the Caps offensive opportunities and gave the Predators good offensive presence.
That pace continued into the second period when the Predators would stretch the lead to 2-0 on a great rush by Jordin Tootoo and Joel Ward. Tootoo drove the wing and Ward drove to the net. Tootoo fired a rocket at the net that deflected off Caps defenseman Brian Fahey's skate and through the five hole of Neuvirth. Ward's strong drive to the net occupied Fahey, who never saw the shot from Tootoo. Neuvirth did not have a chance on the carom off Fahey's skate, and the Predators had the momentum and control of the game.
That momentum would begin to dissipate late in the second period when Nicklas Backstrom would brutally board Marcel Goc. Goc was injured on the play and would not return to the game. Although there is no official word on the injury, it did not look good as Goc appeared to injure his shoulder. In my opinion, Backstrom should have been given a major on the play and a game misconduct. As it was, he only got two minutes.
This forced the Predators to juggle lines and effectively go to three forward lines rather than four. The effect of this was seen late in the third period and into the overtime as fatigue appeared to become a factor for the Predators. Their forechecking game, some effective in the first half of the game, became less of a factor as the game went on. This would have a major impact in the outcome of the contest.
The Predators would take a 2-0 lead into the third period, but were unable to hold that lead in the face of the unrelenting pressure from the Capitals.Alexander Semin scored a power play goal at the the 4:33 mark with Cody Franson in the box for holding the stick. Tomas Fleischman would tie the game with an even strength goal at 12:14. Neither team could score in the remaining time and the contest was heading to overtime.
In the overtime period, Ryan Suter was hit with what can only be charitably called a weak call for tripping Alexander Ovechkin. Replays indicated that Suter had tipped the puck away from Ovechkin first, but when Ovie flopped to the ice, the refs arm went up. Brooks Laich scored on the power play as he tipped a shot from Ovechkin past Anders Lindback for the game winner. Nicklas Backstrom, who, in my view, should not have been in the game also assisted on the game winner.
Four games in, the Predators are 3-0-1 and have garnered 7 out of a possible 8 points. That is the good news. The bad news is that the injuries are starting to mount. Injuries are a fact of life in hockey, so the Predators are going to have to muster up the drive and the strength to overcome them.
I spoke to Pekka Rinne before the game. He said he was fine and will be back in net on Tuesday against Calgary. Marty Erat is close to returning. It is unknown the extent of the injury to Goc, who has been playing very well, and how long he will be out of the lineup. He will be evaluated tomorrow.
The Predators have to be pleased with the play of Anders Lindback, who has filled in capably while Rinne has been out of the lineup.
The Predators showed that they can play with one of the best teams in hockey, and realistically should have won this game in regulation. There are nights you have to overcome your opponent and the officiating. So be it.
Time to bounce back and start a new streak. It starts on Tuesday.
My three stars:
1. Brooks Laich
2. Jordin Tootoo
3. J.P. Dumont
The Predators opened the first period with lots of energy and outshot the Caps 18-7. Their effort was rewarded at 17:07 of the period as J.P. Dumont beat Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth high to the stick side with a shot from just inside the face off circle.
The Predators were able to roll four lines in the first and put great forechecking pressure on the Caps throughout the period. That pressure limited the Caps offensive opportunities and gave the Predators good offensive presence.
That pace continued into the second period when the Predators would stretch the lead to 2-0 on a great rush by Jordin Tootoo and Joel Ward. Tootoo drove the wing and Ward drove to the net. Tootoo fired a rocket at the net that deflected off Caps defenseman Brian Fahey's skate and through the five hole of Neuvirth. Ward's strong drive to the net occupied Fahey, who never saw the shot from Tootoo. Neuvirth did not have a chance on the carom off Fahey's skate, and the Predators had the momentum and control of the game.
That momentum would begin to dissipate late in the second period when Nicklas Backstrom would brutally board Marcel Goc. Goc was injured on the play and would not return to the game. Although there is no official word on the injury, it did not look good as Goc appeared to injure his shoulder. In my opinion, Backstrom should have been given a major on the play and a game misconduct. As it was, he only got two minutes.
This forced the Predators to juggle lines and effectively go to three forward lines rather than four. The effect of this was seen late in the third period and into the overtime as fatigue appeared to become a factor for the Predators. Their forechecking game, some effective in the first half of the game, became less of a factor as the game went on. This would have a major impact in the outcome of the contest.
The Predators would take a 2-0 lead into the third period, but were unable to hold that lead in the face of the unrelenting pressure from the Capitals.Alexander Semin scored a power play goal at the the 4:33 mark with Cody Franson in the box for holding the stick. Tomas Fleischman would tie the game with an even strength goal at 12:14. Neither team could score in the remaining time and the contest was heading to overtime.
In the overtime period, Ryan Suter was hit with what can only be charitably called a weak call for tripping Alexander Ovechkin. Replays indicated that Suter had tipped the puck away from Ovechkin first, but when Ovie flopped to the ice, the refs arm went up. Brooks Laich scored on the power play as he tipped a shot from Ovechkin past Anders Lindback for the game winner. Nicklas Backstrom, who, in my view, should not have been in the game also assisted on the game winner.
Four games in, the Predators are 3-0-1 and have garnered 7 out of a possible 8 points. That is the good news. The bad news is that the injuries are starting to mount. Injuries are a fact of life in hockey, so the Predators are going to have to muster up the drive and the strength to overcome them.
I spoke to Pekka Rinne before the game. He said he was fine and will be back in net on Tuesday against Calgary. Marty Erat is close to returning. It is unknown the extent of the injury to Goc, who has been playing very well, and how long he will be out of the lineup. He will be evaluated tomorrow.
The Predators have to be pleased with the play of Anders Lindback, who has filled in capably while Rinne has been out of the lineup.
The Predators showed that they can play with one of the best teams in hockey, and realistically should have won this game in regulation. There are nights you have to overcome your opponent and the officiating. So be it.
Time to bounce back and start a new streak. It starts on Tuesday.
My three stars:
1. Brooks Laich
2. Jordin Tootoo
3. J.P. Dumont
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