The Nashville Predators fell to the Boston Bruins in a shootout 4-3 at the TD Garden, picking up a point to go to 70 points on the season.
Some observations about this contest...
Boston gave Nashville a dose of their own medicine, as they forechecked the Predators relentlessly throughout the game. The Bruins used their forecheck to disrupt the Predators offense all afternoon and control the puck throughout the contest. The Bruins offensive zone time was dominating, and it was reflected in the shots on goal, which favored the Bruins by a huge 41-22 margin.
The Bruins are an elite team, and the fact that the Predators kept competing and had a chance to win is heartening. The Bruins had a raucous crowd supporting their efforts, and they fed off that momentum. Yet the Predators kept fighting and clawing back. They showed flashes of playing excellent hockey. When they skated and controlled the puck, they forced the Bruins to try to match their speed, which was difficult for them to do.
Unfortunately for the Predators, their offensive effort was inconsistent. A good part of this was the play of a very good Bruins team. Another aspect was that the Predators did not handle the forecheck of the Bruins with efficiency. In the offensive zone, the Bruins used their size to win the majority of puck battles, short circuiting the Predators offensive flow.
Watching this game, and how the Predators struggled to handle the pressure from the Bruins, brought home the point that this team still needs players up front that have the grit and ability to handle a tight checking, physical game. This is the type of hockey this team will face in the playoffs, and this game was a good preview of what this team needs up front to go deep in the playoffs.
I was impressed with the play of several of the Predators. Brandon Yip played a gritty game and battled hard for the puck. Patric Hornqvist was his usual physical presence in front, working hard for position against a big and physical Bruin defense. Shea Weber was a force in the defensive zone and his goal to tie the game was an absolute rocket. Mike Fisher hustled all night, and his goal was a result of him never giving up on the puck or the play, and was a beauty of a backhand.
David Legwand continues to frustrate me with his play in the offensive zone. His puck handling abilities are second to none, but it almost appears that Leggy is afraid to shoot the puck. He almost invariably kills any offensive effort when the puck is in the zone by not shooting the puck and failing to distribute it to his wingers. To have over 20 minutes (20:12) of ice time and not record a single shot on net is both unacceptable and baffling beyond words.
Marty Erat and Colin Wilson both had one shot on goal. These are players that the Predators are counting on to generate offense and create chances. Their play in a tight checking, playoff like game, was invisible. These guys are going to face this type of effort in the playoffs, and their game is going to have to elevate for the Predators to make noise in the post season.
Pekka Rinne was outstanding in net. Without his solid play, the Predators would not have had a chance in this game. He was bombarded with shots throughout the game and made great save after great save. I really can't fault him for any of the goals he gave up as the Bruins made some great plays and the defense broke down in front of him. If Rinne is not in the Hart and Vezina consideration, it would be an injustice of epic proportions.
The Predators have gotten a taste of playoff hockey in their games against the Canucks and the Bruins. Both games have shown that the Predators have the components to win these types of games. These games have also shown that this team has to play with better intensity and focus to have a chance to win these types of contests. The roster does not have a skater that can take over a game, and because of that, this team has to play a total team game. They have shown this season that they can do that.
When they do not not, though, the onus of winning falls on the play of Rinne in net. That means that one mistake can mean the difference between winning and losing a critical game. That margin of error is too slim in the playoffs.
This game against the Bruins has given the Predators a good picture of where they are for the playoffs. to me, it is evident that they need that one piece up front that can play well and consistently in these types of games.
The February 27th trade deadline is going to be interesting.
My three stars:
1. Patrice Bergeron
2. Pekka Rinne
3. Patric Hornqvist
Showing posts with label Patrice Bergeron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrice Bergeron. Show all posts
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Predators Show Heart, Come Back to Beat the Bruins 4-3 in OT
Sometimes a team wins a game when they are short on talent but long on heart and grit. That was the case tonight in the Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators defeated the Boston Bruins in overtime 4-3. For the Predators, this was their first overtime win of the season, and it was two critical points for the Predators, who are fighting for a playoff spot.
With the win, the Predators record is 36-25-10, good for 82 points and currently 9th in the Western Conference, one point out of the 8th position.
The game was billed as a matchup between the two best goalies in the NHL in Boston's Tim Thomas and Nashville's Pekka Rinne. However, Boston chose to go with backup Tuukka Rask against the Predators.
The game did not start well for the Predators, as Boston scored on their first shot of the game. Tyler Seguin beat Rinne high glove side just 1:50 into the game to stake the Bruins to a 1-0 lead.
Sergei Kostitsyn would break his personal scoring drought at 7:53 of the first with a wrist shot from inside the face off circle that would beat Rask for his 17th goal of the season. Good to see Kostitsyn find the net again, as the Predators are going to need contributions from the speedy forward.
Tyler Seguin would factor into another big play in the first period, as Patric Hornqvist was called for elbowing Seguin at at 17:30 of the first period. Although it appeared that Hornqvist made contact with Seguin's shoulder first, Seguin was injured (he received 7 stitches to his ear), and as a result, Hornqvist received a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.
The Predators had to kill the major over the remainder of the first period and the start of the second, and they were fortunate that the penalty was spread over the two periods as it gave the penalty killers time to recover during the intermission. The Predators were successful in killing the major penalty and their effort not only energized the crowd but the team as well.
Pekka Rinne made an outstanding save on Michael Ryder, who came out of the box after serving a penalty for interference and broke in behind the defense. Rinne stoned Ryder with a fantastic glove save to keep the Bruins off the board.
The Predators built on the momentum of the save and the energy of the crowd and Colin Wilson capitalized at 10:39 of the second period with a wicked wrister that beat Rask to his blocker side. Wilson squeezed the shot in between Rask's blocker and the post for his 15th goal of the season. Once again, a player that had endured a personal goal scoring drought had broken through with a tally. For the Predators to have success in their remaining games, they are going to have to have contributions from all the forwards, and Wilson is one of those that will be counted on to find the net.
David Krejci would tie the game at 13:33 as he fired a rebound of a Nathan Horton shot into an open net. Rinne made the initial save on the Horton shot, but kicked the rebound out and Krejci beat Shea Weber to the rebound and fired it past an out of position Rinne.
Tied at 2 going into the third period, it was obvious that the out manned Predators could play with the talented Bruins. The question was would they be able to reach down and capture a win they desperately needed?
The Bruins recaptured the lead at 1:50 of the third period as Patrice Bergeron notched his 22nd goal of the season as he beat Rinne to the glove side.
The hole was there. How would the Predators respond?
Martin Erat was called for high sticking at 8:46 of the third, and once again the stellar penalty kill of the Predators went to work, and once again, they held the Bruins off the board. Erat came out of the box, and much like Michael Ryder did in the second period, took a stretch pass behind the defense and broke in on Rask. Rask made the initial save and a save on a follow up by Sergei Kostitsyn. David Legwand was also following the play, and with Rask out of position after the second save, buried the third attempt for the game tying goal at 10:56.
Neither team was able to find the net for the remainder of the third period, and it was off to overtime, a period that had not been kind to the Predators this season.
In the extra period, Steven Kampfer was called for tackling Mike Fisher, who was hustling on the cycle in the Bruins zone. The Predators would have the man advantage for the remainder of the overtime period.
The Predators would make the Bruins pay for their transgression at 3:37 of overtime. Ryan Suter slid the puck to Shea Weber, who was creeping in from the blueline. Weber unleashed his cannon shot from 10 feet inside the blueline, and Rask never saw the rocket until it was in the back of the net.
With the home crowd in a frenzy, the Predators celebrated their first overtime victory of the season, a win that came against the team with the best road record in the NHL. More importantly, they captured a precious two points that they had to have to stay in the playoff race.
This would have been an easy game to tank for the Predators. Injuries have ravaged the line up and you lose a forward to a game misconduct in the first period. The talent level of the Bruins was better and they had a healthy squad. They one thing you cannot quantify, however, is heart.
And tonight, the heart of the Predators was bigger.
This is the kind of game the Predators are going to have to play the rest of the season- gritty hockey, hockey that is not fancy but hard working hockey. Hockey with heart.
Play with the heart that you displayed tonight and you will be rewarded.
My three stars:
1. Shea Weber
2. Colin Wilson
3. Tyler Seguin
With the win, the Predators record is 36-25-10, good for 82 points and currently 9th in the Western Conference, one point out of the 8th position.
The game was billed as a matchup between the two best goalies in the NHL in Boston's Tim Thomas and Nashville's Pekka Rinne. However, Boston chose to go with backup Tuukka Rask against the Predators.
The game did not start well for the Predators, as Boston scored on their first shot of the game. Tyler Seguin beat Rinne high glove side just 1:50 into the game to stake the Bruins to a 1-0 lead.
Sergei Kostitsyn would break his personal scoring drought at 7:53 of the first with a wrist shot from inside the face off circle that would beat Rask for his 17th goal of the season. Good to see Kostitsyn find the net again, as the Predators are going to need contributions from the speedy forward.
Tyler Seguin would factor into another big play in the first period, as Patric Hornqvist was called for elbowing Seguin at at 17:30 of the first period. Although it appeared that Hornqvist made contact with Seguin's shoulder first, Seguin was injured (he received 7 stitches to his ear), and as a result, Hornqvist received a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.
The Predators had to kill the major over the remainder of the first period and the start of the second, and they were fortunate that the penalty was spread over the two periods as it gave the penalty killers time to recover during the intermission. The Predators were successful in killing the major penalty and their effort not only energized the crowd but the team as well.
Pekka Rinne made an outstanding save on Michael Ryder, who came out of the box after serving a penalty for interference and broke in behind the defense. Rinne stoned Ryder with a fantastic glove save to keep the Bruins off the board.
The Predators built on the momentum of the save and the energy of the crowd and Colin Wilson capitalized at 10:39 of the second period with a wicked wrister that beat Rask to his blocker side. Wilson squeezed the shot in between Rask's blocker and the post for his 15th goal of the season. Once again, a player that had endured a personal goal scoring drought had broken through with a tally. For the Predators to have success in their remaining games, they are going to have to have contributions from all the forwards, and Wilson is one of those that will be counted on to find the net.
David Krejci would tie the game at 13:33 as he fired a rebound of a Nathan Horton shot into an open net. Rinne made the initial save on the Horton shot, but kicked the rebound out and Krejci beat Shea Weber to the rebound and fired it past an out of position Rinne.
Tied at 2 going into the third period, it was obvious that the out manned Predators could play with the talented Bruins. The question was would they be able to reach down and capture a win they desperately needed?
The Bruins recaptured the lead at 1:50 of the third period as Patrice Bergeron notched his 22nd goal of the season as he beat Rinne to the glove side.
The hole was there. How would the Predators respond?
Martin Erat was called for high sticking at 8:46 of the third, and once again the stellar penalty kill of the Predators went to work, and once again, they held the Bruins off the board. Erat came out of the box, and much like Michael Ryder did in the second period, took a stretch pass behind the defense and broke in on Rask. Rask made the initial save and a save on a follow up by Sergei Kostitsyn. David Legwand was also following the play, and with Rask out of position after the second save, buried the third attempt for the game tying goal at 10:56.
Neither team was able to find the net for the remainder of the third period, and it was off to overtime, a period that had not been kind to the Predators this season.
In the extra period, Steven Kampfer was called for tackling Mike Fisher, who was hustling on the cycle in the Bruins zone. The Predators would have the man advantage for the remainder of the overtime period.
The Predators would make the Bruins pay for their transgression at 3:37 of overtime. Ryan Suter slid the puck to Shea Weber, who was creeping in from the blueline. Weber unleashed his cannon shot from 10 feet inside the blueline, and Rask never saw the rocket until it was in the back of the net.
With the home crowd in a frenzy, the Predators celebrated their first overtime victory of the season, a win that came against the team with the best road record in the NHL. More importantly, they captured a precious two points that they had to have to stay in the playoff race.
This would have been an easy game to tank for the Predators. Injuries have ravaged the line up and you lose a forward to a game misconduct in the first period. The talent level of the Bruins was better and they had a healthy squad. They one thing you cannot quantify, however, is heart.
And tonight, the heart of the Predators was bigger.
This is the kind of game the Predators are going to have to play the rest of the season- gritty hockey, hockey that is not fancy but hard working hockey. Hockey with heart.
Play with the heart that you displayed tonight and you will be rewarded.
My three stars:
1. Shea Weber
2. Colin Wilson
3. Tyler Seguin
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