Predators Don't Show Up, Drop Game 7 to the Sharks 5-0

The Nashville Predators have never won a playoff game on the home ice of the San Jose Sharks.

That unenviable trend continued in the 7th game of the Predators second round series against the Sharks.

The Sharks jumped on the Predators early in the game, out shooting the Predators 17-3 in the first period and tallying twice. Joe Pavelski scored on the power play and Joel Ward scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0 after 20 minutes.

Shea Weber had a brutal turnover to Logan Couture, who converted to make it 3-0 early in the second period.

Pekka Rinne was under siege, while Martin Jones had an easy night as the Predators offense never threatened through 2 periods, managing only 8 shots on goal.

Joe Thornton scored on the power play early in the third period to make it 4-0. Patrick Marleau added a goal to make it 5-0.

The Predators were out of gas and getting embarrassed.

Carter Hutton came in to finish the game in net for the Predators, which was just as well because the team in front of Rinne was getting him killed.

The Predators didn't bother to show up in what was arguably their most important game in franchise history and went down to an embarrassing defeat 5-0.

Some observations:

• The Sharks power play has been lethal in this series. It doesn't help that the Predators often allowed Sharks forwards open ice in the low slot. Pavelski scored the first goal of the game from within 10 feet of the net. The Predators often did not seem to have an answer for the Sharks power play unit.
• The Predators knew the Sharks would come out with jump to start the game. They did just that, and the Predators had no answer in the first period. through 17 minutes, the Sharks had 15 shots and the Predators only had 2.
• Pekka Rinne was under siege in the first period (see bullet point above) and had absolutely no help. If he had not made some exceptional saves the game would have been totally out of control for the Predators in the first period.
• Shea Weber was not good in this game. His awful turnover onto the stick of Logan Couture led to the Sharks third goal. When Weber is not good, this team is going to struggle.
• Through 2 periods, the Predators managed only 8 shots and never challenged Jones. Not a formula for success.
• The penalty by Ekholm at the end of the second period was a retaliation penalty and was stupid. it cost the Predators as they gave up their second power play goal to fall behind 4-0.
• Rinne was just under siege and had no help. I really felt sorry for him because the team in front of him gave him absolutely no help.

It is incredibly disappointing to see this team fall  flat on their face. It doesn't take away from the great run they had, but the frustration and sense of failure is palpable with this lack of effort.

I will have a post mortem on the season in a few days.


They are going to have to find a way to win these types of games and have players that will step up in these big games.

I am still proud of this team.

And we all should be.

Predatoes Have Their Chances But Can't Finish, Fall to the Sharks 3-2

The Nashville Predators looked to steal home ice  at the Shark Tank the second game of their series with the San Jose Sharks. The Predators are going to need a full 60 minutes of play and contributions from the top lines to accomplish that task, something that didn't happen in game one.

The Predators played a full 60 minutes with jump and energy this game. Unfortunately, they still came out on the short end of the score by a 3-2 margin.

The Sharks lethal power play capitalized in the second period as Logan Couture tallied to make it 1-0. Pekka Rinne made the initial save, but Couture was left all alone to pick up the rebound and pot a goal into a near empty net.

In the third period, Mattias Ekholm launched a shot through traffic that beat Martin Jones top shelf to tie the game at 1.

Joe Pavelski broke the tie as he was alone to gather in a rebound to make it 2-1.

Joe Thornton hit an empty net goal to make it 3-1.

Roman Josi scored with 3 seconds left to make it 3-2, but there was not enough time for the Predators to tie the game and they will return home down 2-0 in the series.


Some observations:

• After missing the first game of the series, Craig Smith returned to the line up. The Predators are 4-0 when the Honey Badger is in the line up. They are 0-4 without him. You can't underestimate what Smith brings to the line up. When healthy, his speed and attacking style of play opens up the ice for his line mates, and it is a positive to have him back in the line up.
• Lots more intensity and jump by the Predators and the Sharks in the first period. The hitting was better by the Predators and they were moving their feet better than in the first game. Now they have to do it for the next 40 minutes.
• The Predator forwards are going to have to work harder to get to the prime scoring areas. The Sharks do a good job of clearing the front of the net, and this is going to be a matter of want to for the forwards to put pressure on Jones.
• Some great saves by Rinne early in the second period. The Sharks do a great job in transition and on the rush, and Rinne came up with some huge saves to keep the Sharks off the board.
• The Sharks scored on the power play after Rinne made the initial save but gave up a rebound. Problematic with that goal is that Logan Couture was allowed a free ride in front of the net with no defenders challenging him. Rinne has to have some help and the Predators defenders have to make life miserable for the Sharks around the net. They did not on that power play.
• Matty Ek's goal was a perfectly placed shot. But did you see who was taking all sorts of punishment to screen Jones? The smallest guy on the ice- the Aardvark, Viktor Arvidsson. Small guy but perhaps the biggest heart of anyone on the team.
• This was a full 6o minute game by the Predators, but they are going to have to finish some of their chances. They had some great chances but couldn't finish some of their scoring chances. The guys that are counted on to finish are going to have to do just that if this team is going to have a chance to come back in this series.
• There was some uncharacteristically leaky D in front of Rinne on the first two goals that the Sharks scored. Having the opponents forwards left alone to have unmolested tap ins is not a formula for success for the Predators.
• Rinne made some outstanding saves to keep the Sharks off the board and the level of play by the big metminder has given this team an opportunity to win. 

The onus is on the Predators to capture the next two games at Bridgestone Arena. They are going to have to come out with the jump and energy that they displayed tonight.

And they are going to have to finish some of their chances.

My three stars;

1. Joe Pavelski

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Logan Couture

Predators Swamp the Sharks 6-2

The first 10 minutes of the first period of the Nashville Predators game against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena was all Sharks and saw the Predators register just 2 shots on goal. Pekka Rinne was outstanding, keeping the Sharks off the board with some great saves, but the Predators offense needed to get going.

It finally did on their third shot of the period.

Ryan Johansen sent a spinning backhand pass from behind the net to James Neal in the slot, and Neal unleashed that wickedly quick wrister to beat Martin Jones five hole to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

That goal opened the door for the Predators as they cruised to a 6-2 victory.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice. Calle Jarnkrok scored from the slot with a shot that just overpowered Martin Jones, glancing off his glove and into the net. Filip Forsberg added a shorthanded goal and Shea Weber finished the scoring for the Predators with an empty netter.

The Sharks got power play goals from Joe Thornton and Logan Couture for their goals.

Some observations:

• Pekka Rinne was outstanding tonight. The first 12 minutes of the first period saw the Predators get out skated and trapped in their zone. Rinne made some great saves to keep the Sharks off the board and from seizing momentum. The Predators were outshot 9-1 in the first 10 minutes and had some quality scoring chances, but Rinne made some athletic saves and his work in net seemed to settle down the Predators as they started to geneerate some offense. If Rinne had not been sharp the Predators would have been blown out of the barn. The two power play goals he gave up were just on great plays by the Sharks and there was really nothing more he could do after making some good saves. Credit this win to the effort of Rinne.
• Calle Jarnkrok drew first line action on a wing with Johansen and Neal, and he had a a strong game. Head Coach Peter Laviolette  has been searching for a winger that can slot in on that first line and Jarnkrok has made a strong case to be that player. His shot from the slot was gloved by Jones but was so strong it bounced out and trickled over the goal line. Hopefully Jarnkrok is that player that can solidify the first line wing spot that has been in flux. He made a solid case for that tonight.
• Viktor Arvidsson spent a lot of time getting knocked on his ass tonight. I commented to a friend at the game that the Aardvark has to get stronger to play consistently at this level. But wow, when he gets some open ice he can be very dangerous. He showed that as the game went on, first with a beautiful top shelf goal and then with a move that turned Jones inside out. The aardvark has shown some signs of explosiveness and he needs some space to be a difference maker. His hustle and effort are exemplary, and it was good to see him find the back of the net. This was Arvidsson's first multi point game of his career.
• Filip Forsberg recorded 2 assists and a shorthanded goal for his 102 points for his career. Forsberg plays a lot of quality minutes as well as time on the PK and has shown that he is going to be an elite player in this League. Forsberg recorded his second 3 point game of the season. Of the 2012 draft class, Forsberg, Nail Yakupov, and Alex Galchenyuk have recorded 100 points.
• Mike Ribeiro played in his 1000th NHL game tonight. Ribeiro celebrated by picking up 2 assists.
• The Predators are 9-2-2 against the Pacific Division this season.
• Ryan Johansen's 2 assists gives him 13 points in 13 games with the Predators.
• Weber's empty net goal was his 14th goal of the season.

This was a quality win against a very good Sharks team. The Sharks have 17 road wins this season and lead the NHL in road victories, so the Predators captured a much need and quality win against a very competitive opponent.

The Predators started very slowly, and this is the kind of start that the Predators cannot have.  Fortunately, Rinne kept them in the game until the team got its skating legs going.

The Predators have shown they can compete against some of the best teams in the League.

Now they need to do it consistently.

My three stars:

1. Viktor Arvidsson

2. Filip Forsberg

3. Ryan Johansen

Predators Lackluster Effort Leads to Loss to the Sharks

The Nashville Predators traveled to San Jose to face the Sharks in the last game of a three game road trip. The Predators won the first two games of this road swing and were looking to build on that momentum against a Sharks team that always plays the Predators tough in their barn.

A total defensive breakdown by Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm allowed Tomas Hertl to be left alone in front of the net and he was able to get a puck past Rinne after the initial save to make it 1-0 Sharks at 5:01 of the first period.

The Sharks spent the remainder of the period dominating the Predators and controlling play. The Predators had no jump and were chasing the puck all period. if not for the play of Rinne, this game would have gotten out of hand early.

The Predators were going to need to regroup and come out with more energy in the second period.

The Predators effort was hampered when early in the second period Shea Weber delivered a booming check to Ty McGinn along the boards. Both players left the game and went to their respective locker rooms. Weber's absence left the Predators with 5 defensemen.

The Sharks continued to play with energy and jump while the Predators looked a step slow and back on their heels. Rinne's strong play was the only thing keeping the Predators close.

The Predators offense, much like the first period, was non-existent. they managed only 4 shots on net while the Sharks had 11. whatever offensive flow, magic or whatever that the Predators had displayed so far this season had completely disappeared in the first 40 minutes of this game. Without argument, this was the worst 40 minutes of hockey this team had played all season.

The Predators had a bit more jump in the third period and actually created a few good scoring chances. They continued to struggle connecting on their passes and the puck support in the offensive zone was weak, often short circuiting offensive possessions.

The Predators pulled Rinne with 1:46 remaining for the extra attacker and the Predators lost the face off and Joe Thornton promptly put it into the empty net for a 2-0 Sharks lead.

The game would end at that score. The way the Predators played tonight, they were not going to overcome a one goal lead, much less two.

Some observations:

• The Predators looked out of sync and sluggish in the first period and were thoroughly outplayed by the Sharks. No offensive flow and on their heels in the defensive zone and the Sharks pounced on the Predators. Rinne was very busy in the first and had to make some good saves to keep the score from being worse than it was. The Sharks out shot the Predators 18-7 and had good pressure in the offensive zone while the Predators never mounted a challenge to Niemi.
• The 18 shots were the most allowed in a period by the Predators this season.
• Weber missed about half of the second period as he had to get his armed stitched after landing on McGinn's skate.
• Paul Gaustad missed his second game in a row with a lower body injury.
• All season long, the Predators defense has been more active in the offensive zone, and they did that again tonight. A pleasant change from years past.
• Kudos to James Neal for being willing to drop the gloves when provoked. He handled himself well in his first fight of the year.
• Too many cute passes on the power play and not enough meat and potatoes of getting the puck to the net and scrapping for rebounds. This has been a problem for the power play unit all season. The power play unit just plain makes it too easy for the opponents to defend.
• Pekka Rinne was absolutely outstanding. He made some great saves and had lots of pucks coming at him. His save in the second period on Patrick Marleau was a thing of beauty. Without his solid netminding, this game would have been embarrassing for the Predators.
• Once again, the Predators were not good in the face off dot. This is one of the areas of their play that is going to have to improve.
• This was the second time this season that the Predators have been shut out.

This was just a weak effort by the Predators, and although they had a bit of push back in the third period, it was not nearly enough.

This game shows this team can't just step on the ice and expect to chalk upo a win. Bring a half-hearted effort and this will be the result.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Tomas Hertl

3. Joe Thornton

Sharks Slip By the Predators in a SO 2-1

The Nashville Predators continued their west coast road trip with a stop at HP Pavilion to take on the San Jose Sharks. This game wan important game- as they all are at this time of season- as the Predators could leapfrog the Detroit Red Wings into 4th place in the Western Conference with a win.

Pekka Rinne started in net for the Predators while the Sharks went with Antti Niemi.

Once again, the Predators were facing a desperate team in the Sharks, who at the outset of this game were sitting 3 points out of a playoff spot with 78 points. For the Predators, this was going to be another contest where they had to match the intensity of a team that was fighting for their playoff life.

Early in the contest, the Sharks dominated the contest with puck possession and a good cycle game. Through the first nine minutes of the contest, the Sharks out shot the Predators 6-1.

Certainly an ominous start for the Predators.

The Predators would start skating and getting into the contest, and their first break came when Marc-Edouard Vlasic was called for high sticking Sergei Kostitsyn.

The Predators red hot power play made the Sharks pay for their transgression as Mike Fisher skated off the half wall and got the puck to Patric Hornqvist alone at the top of side of the net. Hornqvist was not challenged by the Sharks D, and he spun and put the puck in the top corner at 13:18 of the first period to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. This was Hornqvist's team leading 22nd goal of the season.

Throughout the first period, the Sharks did a good job in the neutral zone of slowing down the Predators speed and consequently the Predators had a difficult time setting up their offense. This was reflected in the shot totals for the first period, with the Sharks out shooting the Predators 13-6.

Going into the second period, it was going to be important for the Predators to control the puck and have crisp breakouts. The Sharks were going to keep coming at the Predators, and their offensive effort was going to have to improve.

The second period opened as the first had ended with the Sharks swarming the Predators, who seemed to be back on their heels at the start.

Although the Sharks were controlling the puck in the Predators zone, the Predators defense did a good job of keeping the Sharks to the outside and limiting quality scoring chances. The Predators had a few good scoring chances as well, but could not get anything past Niemi.

Pekka Rinne made a huge stop on Martin Havlat, who was alone at the side of the net to keep the game scoreless at the 14 minute mark of the second. Rinne was sprawled on the ice and manage to get his glove on Havlat's shot to deny the goal. Rinne had made some big stops in this game, none bigger than that.

Martin Havlat tripped Pekka Rinne in a dirty play and a scrum broke loose involving all the players on the ice. The result was a power play for the Predators, but the power play was ineffective, mounting only one shot on net.

A truculent second period ended with the Predators still leading 1-0 but on the penalty kill with David Legwand in the box for interference. The Sharks would have 1:49 of power play time to start the third period. The Sharks out shot the Predators 15-14 in the second period.

The third period would be one where the Predators had to match the intensity of the and desperation of the Sharks and keep up their offensive pressure. Niemi had been giving up rebounds, and the Predators needed to capitalize on their opportunities.

The Sharks tied the game 55 seconds into the third period as a shot from the point ricocheted to Joe Thornton alone at the side of the net and he buried the shot past Rinne, who had no chance on the play.

Game on, now, and it was time for the Predators to step up their effort.

After the power play goal by the Sharks, they began to dominate the Predators. The Predators had to kill of another penalty, which they did successfully, but the Sharks were on the attack and the Predators were back on their heels. The Predators needed to get their offensive effort going again and challenge the Sharks in their zone.

The Predators did respond and started controlling the puck and firing shots on Niemi. The Predators needed to get good follow up chances on the rebounds that Niemi was giving up.

They could not, just as the Sharks could not get a puck past Rinne, and for the second game in a row, the Predators were heading to overtime.

In the third period, the Predators out shot the Sharks 10-4.

The Sharks opened the OT with absolutely dominant play, aided by the Predators sloppy puck handling. Rinne made a great save on a breakaway by Dan Boyle to keep the Predators in the game.

Shea Weber took a penalty with 3.9 seconds left in the OT, and the Sharks Patrick Marleau missed a good scoring chance with a backhand just as the horn sounded to end the period.

So for the second game in a row, the Predators were going to have to decide a contest in a shootout.

San Jose would shoot first, and Martin Havlat was the first shooter and was stoned by Rinne.

Poetic justice after Havlat's earlier dirty play.

Craig Smith was stopped by Niemi.

Joe Pavelski was stopped by the stick of Rinne.

Andrei Kostitsyn lost the puck but got a weak shot away that was stopped by Niemi.

Ryan Clowe beat Rinne stick side to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead in the shoot out.

David Legwand was stopped by Niemi, and the Sharks captured the win in the shootout.

The Predators started slowly, weathered the Sharks storm, and fought their way back in this game. The fact is that the Sharks were the more desperate team and played like it for much of the night. The Predators effort was solid, but not good enough to capture the second point they wanted.

Coming out of this game, the concern is for the health of Paul Gaustad, who injured his hand in the third period and did not return to the game.

The road gets no easier for the Predators, as they face another desperate team in the L.A. Kings on Saturday night.

Time to re-group and get back to the winning ways.

My three stars:

1. Antti Niemi

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Ryan Clowe

Sharks Bitten by the Predators 3-2

When the Nashville Predators play the San Jose Sharks, it is often a grinding affair. The Sharks use their size and strength to grind on the Predators and wear them down, usually on their way to a victory. The formula has worked well for the Sharks against the Predators, as they have won 9 of their previous 12 meetings.

Tonight, that formula looked as if would produce another victory for the Sharks. Nursing a 2-1 lead with five minutes to go, it appeared as if the Sharks would once again exert their will against the smaller Predators and skate away with another win.

The physical advantage of the Sharks was no match for the heart and desire of the Predators, however, as the Predators scored two goals in a span of 44 seconds and held off a 6 on 4 Sharks power play in the last minute to win 3-2 and continue their torrid December.

The win ran the Predators record in December to 6-0-1 and 7-1-2 in their last ten games. The Predators have now won four straight contests.

San Jose opened the scoring at 7:25 of the first period as Niclas Wallin was alone in the face off circle and blistered a shot to the far side post past Nashville netminder Anders Lindback. Lindback was not screened on the shot and was beaten by a rocket that was perfectly placed just inside the far side post.

San Jose used their size to muscle the Predators away from the net and refused to give them many quality looks in the first period. The Predators continued to work the puck throughout the period and did generate some chances, but were unable to get one past Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi. The effort that the Predators put forth made one feel that eventually they would manage to solve Niemi. It would just be a matter of time.

That time would come at 12:14 of the second period.

The Predators would dump a puck deep to the right of the net. Jordin Tootoo pursued the puck and made a hit on the Sharks defender at the wall, jarring the puck loose. Tootoo would control the puck and flip a centering pass toward the crease. The puck hit the stick of former Predator Scotty Nichol and would bounce past Niemi for the Predators first goal. One could say the goal was a fluke, but that score was a direct result of hustle by Tootoo and putting the puck back into a scoring position. Good things happen when you put the puck on the net.

San Jose would answer at 17:26 of the second as Dany Heatley would knock in a rebound on a Sharks power play to make it 2-1.

With that lead going into the third, San Jose played most of the period like they have played the Predators in games past: a suffocating defense and timely chances generated by the scoring line of Thornton, Heatley, and Marleau. Time was melting away off the clock, and it appeared that the Sharks would once again get the better of the Predators. Their size and strength was starting to take its toll on the Predators.

Size and strength are one thing; heart is entirely another matter. Tonight, the heart, the fight, belonged to the Predators.

Sergei Kostitsyn would continue his solid play and would tie the game at 16:44 of the third. Shea Weber skated the puck into the zone and found Kostitsyn driving the net. Kostitsyn was being harassed by a Sharks defender but fought to get his stick on the puck and was able to slide it between the pads of Niemi for the tying score.

Momentum to the Predators.

The heart was always theirs.

 The Predators would take the lead 44 seconds later as Colin Wilson took a nice pass from Steve Sullivan on a 3 on 1 break and made no mistake in burying the shot past Niemi.

The Predators did not make the finish easy, however. Jordin Tootoo was called for delay of game for shooting the puck over the glass. Initially, a linesman ruled that the puck was tipped, but was overruled by referee Francois St. Laurent. So at 18:08, the Predators were down a man and fighting to kill off the remainder of the period with a man down.

Niemi went to the box and the the Predators were fighting a 6 on 4 advantage for the Sharks.

And fight they did.

The Predators PK was outstanding, clogging shooting lanes, clearing the front of the net, and challenging shots. A few timely clears, and the clock ran out with the Predators on top.

The Predators managed to reverse their fortunes against the Sharks by seizing momentum in the third. They put themselves in that position by fighting all game, refusing to yield to the size and talent of the Sharks.

Tonight, the Predators displayed the heart and the will to win this game. Character won out.

The Predators were without Patric Hornqvist, who was injured in the previous game with the Islanders. A very big hole in the lineup, one that would require the entire team to step up and take up the slack. Another challenge to fight through; another opportunity for others to show heart and character.

That fight, that character was shown in little things that won the game. Taking a hit to make a play; hustling back, as J.P. Dumont did, to stop a breakaway attempt; fighting to clear the front of the net; all things that don't show up in the score sheet but often determine the outcome of a game.

It is this type of effort that it takes to be a talented team like the Sharks. It is this type of effort that it takes to build a winning streak like the one the Predators enjoy.

Keep playing with heart and character like you displayed tonight, and the wins will pile up.

My three stars:

1. Colin Wilson

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Anders Lindback