Predators Pick Up First Win, Defeat Wild 3-2

The Nashville Predators tallied their first win of the season, a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, that was highlighted by special teams play by both squads.

Pekka Rinne earned his first win, while the loss for the Wild could be costly, as they lost starting netminder Niklas Backstrom to an injury in the first period. Josh Harding came on in relief and finished the game for the Wild.

The Wild opened the scoring at 4:05 of the first period. With Seth Jones in the box for high sticking, Zach Parise eluded the defensive coverage and was alone in front of the net and had an easy tap in off a pass from Mikko Koivu.

The Predators went on the power play as Kyle Brodziak was called for interference at 4:15 of the first period. Just 21 seconds later, Koivu was called for tripping. The Predators made the Wild pay for these penalties.

Seth Jones took a shot from the point and the rebound caromed out to Filip Forsberg. Forsberg sniped a shot over the shoulder of Backstrom, showing a quick release and good accuracy on the score. His first NHL goal came at 5:07 of the first period.

With Koivu still in the box, the Predators continued on the power play, and just 39 seconds later, Colin Wilson fired a shot over the shoulder of Backstom to the far post to give the Predators a 2-1 lead.

Eric Nystom had a breakaway attempt, but was slashed and tripped, crashing into Backstom. Backstrom had his leg trapped under Nystrom and was injured on the play. Nystrom was awarded a penalty shot while Backstrom had to leave the game. Harding came into the game and had to face Nystrom on the penalty shot. Nystrom ripped a shot high glove side just under the crossbar to to give the Predators a 3-1 lead.

The Wild cut the lead to 3-2 as Jared Spurgeon scored with one second remaining on a Wild power play at 7:26 of the second period.

That was it for the scoring for the game, but not for lack of chances. Rinne in particular had to be sharp to keep the Predators in the lead as the Wild peppered the net with numerous shots.

Some observations:

• As good as the first period was for the Predators, the second period was awful. The Wild dominated the Predators and the offensive effort showed the recurring and frustrating tendency of disappearing. The Wild out shot the Predators 12-4 in the second period and had a decided territorial advantage. While many of the shots by the Wild were from the perimeter, the Predators are flirting with disaster when their offense is non-existent.

Rinne was sharp throughout the game and made some big saves to keep the Wild off the board. He looks to have no lingering issues from off season hip surgery.

• The power play went 2 for 4, and it is good to see the power play come to life. The Predators need this unit to be productive, and hopefully this give them confidence.

• The penalty kill is another story. The Predators surrendered two goals on five power play opportunities. Part of that is the young layers on the blue line, and part of this is that the penalty killers have not seemed to gel. This has to improve for the Predators to have success.

• I am still not convinced that Ryan Ellis is a regular and dependable blue liner. he is still dominated by more physical forwards and is not contributing offensively.

• Seth Jones continues to impress. Tonight, he had one assist and lead the team in ice time, logging 25:02. 

The Predators needed this win, coming against a divisional rival and starting the season 0-2. Yes, there were some flaws, but the team persevered and competed well. I like the compete level of this team and over time, I believe they will gel and continue to improve.

The Predators next four games are at home in front of their rabid fans.

This is the time to start piling up some wins.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Filip Forsberg

3. Colin Wilson

Predators Lose Wilson and Game to the Wild

The Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild met at the Bridgestone Arena, and the game was another typical Predators/Wild contest.

It was like watching paint dry.

Once again, the Wild claimed a 2-1 shootout victory over the Predators.

Pekka Rinne and Niklas Backstrom dueled in net, with each giving up a goal in regulation. Rinne gave up goals in the shootout to Mikko Koivu and Matt Cullen, while Craig Smith had the only tally for the Predators.

Zach Parise scored on the power play in regulation for the Wild, tipping a puck over the glove of Rinne. The Predators returned the favor on the man advantage as David Legwand scored over the glove of Backstrom.

Some observations:

The Injury Bug Bites. Hard

The Predators were already without the services of Patric Hornqvist, who had been injured in the game against Edmonton the previous night. The Predators lost Colin Wilson in the second period as he was hit and fell awkwardly into the end boards. He went in hard and hit his head and shoulder. He was taken to the locker room and did not return. The extent of his injury is not known at this time.

Karma is a Bitch

Public enemy number 1, Lyin' Ryan Suter, assisted on the Wild's only goal in regulation. His shot from the blue line on the power play was tipped by his partner in bromance, Zach Parise, to give the Wild the first score of the game. Later, Suter was called for roughing and David Legwand scored with Suter in the box.

Poetic justice.

Bobby Butler also had his own encounter with karma. In his first game with the Predators, Butler forced the Oilers into taking three penalties and the Predators scored on two of their power play opportunities. Tonight, it was Butler in the box  for hooking that led to the score for the Wild.

Ouch.

No Video Tribute for You

Players that have been on the Predators roster that return for the first time typically get a tribute video. The Predators game ops had one cued up for Suter. Kudos to them for their good judgment in not playing it. The sellout crowd booed Suter lustily every time he was on the ice, and a tribute video would not have been well received.

At Least They are Shooting

Every forward except Bobby Butler, Nick Spaling, and Colin Wilson (in limited time) recorded at least one shot on net. This is a marked improvement from previous games. Now all we have to do is...

Gotta Finish

The Wild do a good job of playing their system and limiting chances. Tonight was no different. Yet the Predators out shot the Wild 24-23 in regulation and had some good chances. Backstrom was strong and many of the shots were from the perimeter. Backstrom did give up rebounds, but the Wild did a good job of cleaning up those opportunities. The Predators have to get more traffic to the net and get a scorers touch from some of their forwards. Fighting for rebounds and getting secondary scoring chances would have gone a long way to changing the outcome.

Someone Give Him a Hug

Lyin' Ryan Suter said after the game his feelings were hurt by the reception he received from the Predator faithful. Probably should have thought about that one, Ryan, before you lied about your intentions and screwed over the franchise last year. Sorry, but we don't take too kindly to people that don't keep their word.

Oh yeah, get used to it.

Final Thoughts

The Predators are now 10-9-6 with 26 points and although they are tied with 8th place Los Angeles, they have played two more games and currently sit in 11th place in the West.

The Predators are going to have to improve their effort and start getting wins. The remaining 23 games of the regular season are going to amount to an extended Stanley Cup playoff, and it is imperative that the Predators start getting as many points as possible.

That means they are going to have to continue to shoot the puck and get traffic to the net. Key injuries are starting to affect the team, and all that means is that others on the roster are going to have to step up.

No passengers, boys.

My three stars:

1. Niklas Backstrom

2. Matt Cullen

3. Pekka Rinne

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

Predators Outlast the Wild in a SO

The Nashville Predators faced the Minnesota Wild at the Bridgestone Arena in a game that had great significance for the Predators. With a win, they could move into 4th place, one point ahead of Detroit and 2 points ahead of Chicago.

The Predators accomplished their mission by defeating the Wild in a shootout for a 2-1 win.

It wasn't pretty, but fortunately, they do not give style points for a win.

Anders Lindback got the start for the Predators, giving Pekka Rinne a night off. Niklas Backstrom got the start for the Wild.

The first period was scoreless, with Minnesota holding a 12-10 shot advantage. Both teams struggled at times trying to establish some offensive flow. The effort by both teams was not helped by a bouncing puck on ice that was less than ideal.

Troubling for the Predators was the three penalties that they took in the first period. The Predators PK was stellar, and Lindback made some good saves. For the Predators, this spate of penalties does not bode well, and they are going to have to play with more discipline.

In the second period, the Predators got on the board first as Gabriel Bourque tallied his 7th goal of the season off a nice pass from Nick Spaling at 12:31. The line of Spaling, Bourque, and Patric Hornqvist was the best line for the Predators tonight, playing with lots of jump and creating some chances. Bourque continues his strong play, with 7 points (4G-3A) in his last 9 games.

The Wild tied the game at 17:53 of the second as Nate Prosser fired a puck toward the net. Dany Heatley got his stick on the shot and re-directed the puck past Lindback.

The third period was scoreless, but the Predators resumed their march to the penalty box, taking three penalties in the period. The last came from Andrei Kostitsyn at 19:48. Heading into OT, the Wild would have a 4 on 3 advantage.

The Predators PK once again came up with a big kill in OT to preserve the tie. Neither team could find the net, with the Wild mustering only 2 shots on net. The Predators were even more anemic in the OT, with only 1 shot.

In the shootout, Lindback stopped Erik Christensen and Backstrom stopped Marty Erat in the first round.

In the second round, Lindback stoned Mikko Koivu, while Alexander Radulov beat Backstrom with a forehand.

With the game on the line, Lindback stopped Devin Setoguchi, and the Predators had captured the precious second point.

For Lindback, this was his first shootout of his career, and he came up big in a pressure situation.

This win was obviously important, and it was good to get the victory and the points. For the Predators, there is still fine tuning that is needed in their game. This team appears to need to get their lines in sync and rolling as they head to the playoffs.

The top line of Mike Fisher, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Marty Erat were held to 3 shots on goal and never threatened Backstrom. The second line of Radulov, Andrei Kostitsyn, and David Legwand were not much better, mustering 4 shots on goal. Legwand  had 3 and Radulov 1. For the Predators, these top two lines need to get rolling heading into the playoffs.

Yes, the Wild play a trap that can smother their opponents offensive efforts, but these players are the ones that the Predators count on to generate chances. In the next two games, these lines have to develop a nose for the net and create some chances. Tonight, they were not doing that.

Kudos to the Predators PK. The undisciplined play of the Predators could have hurt against a dangerous team like the Wild. The PK unit managed to kill off all 6 penalties, but paramount for the Predators is to limit the march to the box that they have done in their last 2 games.

I have to also single out Lindback for his play tonight. He did and excellent job of being positionally sound and controlling rebounds. He was solid in net tonight, and it is a plus for the Predators having his play elevate in these critical games.

With the win, the Predators go to 100 points. They control their destiny with 2 regular season games remaining. Win and potentially secure home ice.

The task starts Thursday against the Stars.

My three stars:

1. Anders Lindback

2. Gabriel Bourque

3. Dany Heatley

Predators Whip the Wild 5-1

Watching the Minnesota Wild play hockey is akin to watching mildew grow in your bathroom: ugly and difficult to get out. Tonight at the Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators faced the Minnesota Mildew Wild, and for two periods, it appeared as if the Wild would be the fungus that would frustrate the home team with their grind it out, trapping style of play. The third period, however, was all Predators, as they whipped the Wild 5-1 for their 6th straight victory.

It was obvious that the Wild were going to trap all night and attempt to force turnovers by the Predators. That strategy worked for much of the first period as the Wild kept the Predators bottled up in their own end of the ice. Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne was called upon early to make some big saves to hold the Wild off the board.

Playing against a team like the Wild takes patience and persistence. Keep chipping the puck out of the zone and work it into the offensive zone and generate chances s the formula for success against the trap that the Wild employ.

That formula would pay dividends for the Predators at 7:03 of the first period as Marek Svatos entered the zone with speed. He slipped a nice pass to David Legwand, who was driving the net with speed. Legwand got his stick on the puck and re-directed the pass between the pads of Wild goaltender Jose Theodore for a 1-0 Predators lead. This was Legwand's second goal in as many games and his 4th goal of the year.

That lead would last for nine minutes, when the Wild tied it on an even strength goal by Mikko Koivu as a Predator Pk had just ended. Koivu drove to the net and split two defenders and lifted a backhand that beat Rinne at 16:05.

The Wild outshot the Predators 9-6 in the first period, but controlled the puck for lengthy stretches at a time, as their trap thwarted the Predators offensive effort. At the end of one, it had the feel of a game that could be decided by one mistake by either team.

That mistake would occur at 1:02 of the second period, as Joel Ward gathered in a rebound of a Kevin Klein shot and backhanded the puck under the glove of a sprawling Theodore to give the Predators a 2-1 advantage. On the play, Ward was patient with the puck, settling it down and getting off a good shot that beat the Wild netminder.

The remainder of the second period was a back and forth affair with both teams generating some chances and both goalies being equal to the task. Minnesota continued to trap and slow the Predators through the neutral zone, at times totally frustrating the offensive efforts of the Predators.

In the defensive zone, the Predators did a good job of keeping the Wild to the outside and on the boards, rarely giving the Mildew Wild quality scoring chances.

Minnesota outshot the Predators 12-10 in the second period.

Going into the third period, the game was in the balance, and it would go to the team that could exert their will.

That team would be the Predators.

The Predators would extend their lead to 3-1 at 4:18 of the third as Nick Spaling would launch a shot toward the net with traffic in front. The puck sailed cleaning through the mass of bodies in front of Theodore, who never saw the puck, and found the back of the net for his third goal of the year.

It would be Spals out again as he crashed the net on a Shea Weber shot. Spaling would jam at the puck several times, and would wedge home the shot with Theodore out of position and s Wild defender trying to hug the post. His persistence paid off with his second goal of the game at 10:39 of the third.

This goal was enough to cause Wild coach Todd Richards to pull Theodore and insert backup Anton Khudobin. Khudobin was welcomed to the contest with a Marcel Goc goal off a horrible Wild turnover that left Goc alone in the low slot. He buried a nice wrister over the shoulder of Khudobin for a 5-1 Predator lead and his 8th goal of the year.

The Predators began their winning streak with a win in Minnesota on December 31. That win was big for the Predators because it snapped a 5 game losing streak.

The win tonight was big for the Predators because they were just 3 points in front of Wild coming into this contest. This win extends their lead over the Wild to 5 points and keeps the Predators in fourth place in the West with 52 points, one ahead of Phoenix at 51.

The win tonight was characterized by players who don't score often coming through for the Predators. The line of Spaling, Ward, and Smithson was the best line on the ice tonight for the Predators. They played with jump, created chances, and more importantly, finished those chances.

The PK continued its stellar play, killing off all three Wild man advantage chances.

For this team to win, they have to have solid contributions from all lines. Tonight, they got those contributions. Successful teams have several lines that can play good two way hockey. If the third and fourth lines can contribute like tonight, this team will be dangerous in the second half of the season.

My three stars:

1. Nick Spaling

2. Joel Ward

3. Pekka Rinne