Predators Have No Fight In Them, Fall to the Coyotes 4-0

The Nashville Predators were looking to find some consistency and some wins. A trip to Gila River Arena to face the Arizona Coyotes stood in their way of accomplishing those goals.

Pekka Rinne got the night off and Carter Hutton got the start, while Louie Domingue, who has been red hot for the Coyotes (5-0-2 in 7 starts), was in the net.

Hutton was tested early as Anthony Duclair was awarded a penalty shot and he stopped the attempt.

After a scoreless first period, the Coyotes struck first in the second period as Antoine Vermette tallied on a power play for a 1-0 lead.

Tobias Rieder scored 55 seconds into the third period on a shot that floated over the shoulder of Carter Hutton to make it 2-0. He added an empty net goal at 17:37, and Anthony Duclair scored with 14 seconds left to humiliate the Predators 4-0.


Some observations:

• Colin Wilson was scratched with a lower body injury.
• D pairs were changed. Petter Granberg skated with Mattias Ekholm in his first action since being acquired. Barret Jackman was paired with Ryan Ellis.
• Cody Hodgson drew back into the line up and was on a line with Viktor Arvidsson and Mike Fisher. 
• In the absence of Wilson, Filip Forsberg moved up to the Johansen and Neal Line. Calle Jarnkrok was on a wing with Craig Smith and centerd by Mike Ribeiro.
• The Predators penalty kill has had stretches of being bad and then showing some significant improvement. They are back to being bad again. This unit has never really looked in sync this season, although they have had some good stretches. They are back to looking out of sync again. And this is not good for this struggling team.
• On the other side, the Predators man advantage has been very inconsistent. There are moments where that u nit looks really good and moments where they have difficulty in getting in the zone. Again, the inconsistency of this unit mirrors the inconsistency of this team. Both have to improve.
• Maybe it is just me, but it seems that the constant line juggling by Head Coach Peter Laviolette has seriously disrupted the chemistry among the Predator forwards, both in the offensive and defensive zones. 
• The lack of production from the third line is troubling. Great teams get balanced scoring and there is none on the Predators right now. And the 4th line? It has David Legwand-itis. That is where offense goes to die.
• This team has completely lost its confidence and mojo. While talented, this is a fragile team that lacks mental toughness and the ability to fight back in the face of adversity. Halfway through the season and the Predators have only 2 wins when trailing after 2 periods. This speaks volumes about the toughness, or lack thereof, on this squad.

There is not much to say about this game, or frankly this team, that hasn't already been said. The season is wasting away and this team shows no ability to stop this miserable slide.

I hope I am proven wrong.

My three stars:

1. Louie Domingue

2. Tobias Rieder

3. Anthony Duclair

The Streak Is Over! Predators Get Back In the Win Column With Victory Over the Coyotes

The Nashville Predators traveled to Gila River Arena to take on the Arizona Coyotes in a game they desperately needed to win. A six game losing streak has seen the the Predators fall back to the pack in the Central Division and relinquish their top spot in the NHL

It wasn't easy, but the Predators captured a 2-1 overtime victory over the Coyotes.

It wasn't easy at all.

Despite firing 32 shots at Louie Domingue in regulation, the Predators could only find the net once as Paul Gaustad slapped a puck inside the post.

The Coyotes tied the game in the third period on the power play as a shot from John Moore was going well wide of the net but hit Kyle Chipchura's skate and was lofted over the glove of Pekka Rinne.

In the overtime period, the Predators had the only 6 shots taken, and it was the last one from James Neal that was the game winner. He gathered in a shot that had been blocked in the slot and fired the puck home to end that awful 6 game losing streak.

Some observations:

• Viktor Stalberg was recalled and in the line up tonight. He was on a line with Mike Santorelli and Matt Cullen. Stalberg has all the physical tools, and it sure would be great to see him get his game going. He could add some pop to the Predators offense if his game starts to step up.
• Finally! That horrific streak of 11 games giving up the first goal is finally over. Paul Gaustad's third goal of the season was the first tally of the game and the first time in what seemed forever that the Predators have had a lead in a game. Getting that particular monkey off the back of this team has got to be helpful.
• Once again, the Predators have no hockey luck. A shot well wide of the net caroms off Kyle Chipchura's skate and past Pekka Rinne for a goal. That was a power play goal set up by James Neal taking a double minor for high sticking.
• The Predators power play has got to start converting with some consistency. The unit did improve somewhat in that they got some shots on net, but goodness, if this unit cannot find some consistency and get some pucks in the net, then we will continue to struggle in games. Tonight, the Predators were 0-5 with the man advantage.
• Maybe it is just me, but it seems that Filip Forsberg is pressing a bit. No doubt he possesses elite skills, but there are times where passing to a teammate instead of trying to carry the puck alone would be the wiser course of action.
• I liked the jump that the Predators brought to the game tonight. The were energetic and moving well in the offensive zone. They just need to finish some of the quality chances that they had, but this is the kind of offensive effort that should bolster the confidence of the team.
• The Predators were not as good in the faceoff circle as they have been recently. They won 28 of 57, just under 50%.
• The Predators out hit the Coyotes 46-32 and blocked 20 shots, both indicative of the effort the team brought to the rink tonight.

Goodness gracious, it feels good to stop that losing streak1

Now that we have stopped it, we have to build on this win and start piling up some points.

This is a good first step.

My three stars:

1. James Neal

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Louie Domingue