Another rare visit by an Eastern Conference team produces yet another positive home performance for the Nashville Predators. The New Jersey Devils are an elite Eastern team, but this time the defensive nature of a Western team found a way to slow them down just enough and scratch out a shootout win. 13,445 looked on as the Preds derailed the Devils in a 3-2 shootout win.
Felder’s FICKLE Five:
1. Arnott Gets Back To Goal Scoring - 2 goals tonight for the Captain who had been struggling lately to get one past a goalie. Well, all it took was a rare trickle in goal on Brodeur, and the monkey came off of Arnott's back. In talking to him after the game, you could tell Arnott felt relieved to finally chip in for his club. If the top line gets firing on all cylinders, then this team will be on it's way to doing some serious damage.
2. A Beast Named Parise - If this guy didn't impress you then you need to get your eyes checked. How he is not a household name among hockey fans is beyond me. I came away very impressed with Zach, and can truly see why every Devils fan must love him. Despite the Predators winning, I just couldn't bring myself to vote for anyone else as the 1st star. His performance was that strong in all aspects tonight.
3. Disciplined Play - Again, another solid night for the Preds. The only penalties taken were in the 1st period. On top of that, Jordin Tootoo showed all sorts of restraint in not taking the bait that Clarkson and Peters were offering. Maybe this is the new version of Toots. I'd call it version 2.2. Either way, he made a huge impact on the 2nd period, and really kept the Devils worrying about him rather than sustaining pressure on offense.
4. Defending the Rush - I'm referring to momentum more than an actual odd man rush. The Preds couldn't stop the Devils from responding to each goal scored. Now, to me, that just proves what a could team New Jersey is, but considering the defensive corps the Preds have, you'd like to see them clamp down a bit more.
5. Odds and Ends - I honestly didn't have one other topic worth devoting a whole slot to, so here are some tidbits I found interesting: another game in which the Preds do find a way to score on the man advantage, this time with just 2 opportunities on the power play. Joel Ward led the Preds with 6 shots on goal. Both Dan Hamhuis and Tootoo had 5 hits. Hornqvist continues to see diminished minutes. He logged a team low 9:09 in this game. Ryan Suter led the team's TOI with 25:14 off of 33 shifts. Mike Santorelli has participated in 2 NHL shootouts, and has scored in both.
Other Notes:
* Tonight’s scratches were Wade Belak and Alexander Sulzer. Colin Wilson remains on IR. For the Devils, Matt Halischuk, Ilkka Pikkarainen, and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Lebland were on the scratch list. Paul Martin, Dean McAmmond, Jay Pandolfo, Rob Niedermayer, and Johnny Oduya remain on IR.
* 1ST PERIOD
* GOAL for NASHVILLE - 15:16 to go. Martin Brodeur was caught off guard. Mark it down because that is a rare moment. Brian Rolston failed to control the puck while battling Jason Arnott as they skated through the faceoff circle to Brodeur's glove side. Arny let off what can only be described as a nonchalant wrister along the ice towards the net. This literally was one of the most routine saves you normally see. That said, it certainly appeared as if Brodeur thought Rolston had the puck because the shot dribbled in 5-hole and by the time #30 saw the shot, it was going under his legs. Arnott (4) from Dumont (11) and Sullivan (4). Preds take the 1-0 lead.
* GOAL for NEW JERSEY - 11:25 to go. Colin White fires off a slap shot from the left point. The puck travels through traffic and finds a way past Rinne on the stick side. This puck was a funny one though because I couldn't quite see if it got tipped from the multiple replays, but somehow it did seem to pop up, make a lap around the pipes, and then leave on the glove side. Just a funny goal that doesn't "look" like one you'd normally see if you know what I mean. Zach Parise (12) from White (3) and Travis Zajac (13). The Devils used the momentum from an expired power play and even this game up at 1.
* END OF THE 1ST PERIOD – NSH: 1 NJ: 1Positives - Won 65% of the faceoffs. Solid D limiting the chances. Negatives - Not really many to be had at the moment. Only out shot 7-6. You'd like more SOG's, but both teams are really involved in a defensive chess match of sorts.
* 2ND PERIOD
* The most entertaining part of the first 10 minutes of the 2nd period had to be the attention Jordin Tootoo was getting from the Devils. He was under their skin in the worst way. This started back at the end of the 1st when Elias didn't take too kindly to a hit Toots applied earlier in a shift, so when he noticed Jordin skating to the bench just behind him he turned and gave him a shove to the chest, knocking Jordin down. Somehow, Tootoo got called for an unsportsmanlike penalty in there, while Elias received the proper 2 minute minor for interference. Now, in the 2nd period we've had David Clarkson get hit along the boards by 22 and then Clarkson dropped his gloves and wrapped Jordin up. Toots did not respond and drew a holding penalty. It was hard to believe that Jordin just stood there and let the guy push him around a bit. This obviously infuriated Clarkson that he did not get the fight he wanted, and instead got a penalty. The next Tootoo shift saw Andrew Peters going right at him, challenging him before the faceoff even occurred. Tootoo again did not respond, and even after the puck drop Peters was jawing at him. At one point, Peters even had his left glove off while on the shift, calling after Tootoo. This entire series of events was so interesting to watch. To see Tootoo have this much effect on one team, and a team that rarely plays against the Preds, is quite fascinating and just shows what kind of an impact Jordin can have at times.
* END OF THE 2ND PERIOD – NSH: 1 NJ: 1Positives - Really solid play from Peks in that period as he was tested a handful of times. Winning 57% of the faceoffs so far. Negatives - Out shot 12-6 in that frame. Now down in the shot total 19-12.
* 3RD PERIOD
* POWER PLAY GOAL for NASHVILLE - 18:51 to go. The former Devil Jason Arnott gets another goal past Marty. This time it was a deflection that went under Brodeur's right leg. Dumont had the initial shot just a touch higher than the faceoff circles and the captain got his stick on it just right. Arnott (5) from Dumont (12) and Suter (8). Preds take a 2-1 lead at the beginning of the 3rd period.
* GOAL for NEW JERSEY - 15:21 to go. The Devils respond promptly. Dean Mcammond drives to the net, wheels towards the stick side and then lays it in front for Parise. Smithson can't hold the talented goal scorer at bay and Parise tallies high glove side on Peks before he can get the glove in the air. That's 6 games in a row with a goal for Parise. He is one of the most talented forwards who doesn't get a lot of press in my opinion. Parise (12) from Mcammond (1) and Elias (3). This game is all square at 2.
* TO OT WE GO
* Give credit to the goalies in this frame. Brodeur came up with a brilliant effort on Arnott, while the Devils forced Peks to make a pair of stellar saves to keep the game going.
* SHOOTOUT
* The scorers: For New Jersey, Travis Zajac had the lone shootout goal, and it was a flukey one at that. Read Barry Trotz quote down below for a perfect explanation. For Nashville, Mike Santorelli and Marty Erat got the job done. Santorelli drove to the net with speed, caught Brodeur off guard a bit as he wired the puck in five hole. Erat deked to the glove side and then fired off the puck high stick side past Brodeur for the win.
* The saves: For NJ, Brodeur's lone save came against David Legwand. It really wasn't a save though because Leggy had Marty down and out, but failed to get the high backhand shot on net. For the Preds, Pekka put on a show. Peks tracked Parise, didn't bite on the leg kick, and then made the stop on a nice looking backhand shot that went high glove. Then, to top that, Peks makes an unbelievable save on Langenbrunner as he goes from being in position for a stick side shot that was a fake, then laterally pushes to the other post and gets the leg against the pipe in time to stop the low glove side shot. Langenbrunner had to think he had beat Peks, but Rinne literally saved the game there.
* FINAL SCORE – NSH - 3 NJ - 2.
My Three Stars:
1. Zach Parise - To me, the best player on the ice tonight. He was a beast. 2 goals, a +2 rating, game leading 7 shots on goal, 1 hit, 2 takeaways, and 1 blocked shot.
2. Jason Arnott - 2 goals, 2 shots on goal, and won 12 of his 21 faceoffs.
3. Pekka Rinne - His performance in the shootout has to be noted.
Goalie Grade:A- – The starting goaltender tonight was Pekka Rinne. Both goals against were unstoppable in my opinion. Letting up on the Zajac shootout attempt is the only reason he doesn't get a solid A. He won't make that mistake again though based on his quotes. Peks finished the game with 26 saves on 28 shots against, and he stopped 2 of the 3 New Jersey shootout attempts.
Quotes:
Brandon Felder - "When you face an all-world goaltender like Martin Brodeur, do you almost have to simply things on offense?"
J.P. Dumont - "You have to make sure you get traffic on net and make sure you make the little plays. We know he loves to play the puck so we wanted to keep him in net as much as we can, and I think we did that. He loves to come out and I think that's his way to get into the game as well, you know skate around and make some passes and play the puck a lot but I think we did a pretty job with that tonight."
*
Felder - "When you look back at that 1st goal, considering who was in net, how surprised were you that the puck slipped thru there?"
Jason Arnott - "Well I think he wasn't ready for it. I don't think he knew it was coming. I just lifted the guys stick and fired it on net and I don't think he was even ready so. You know it was good for me cause I needed it to break out of that slump so it was a good start to the game."
*
Felder - "Would you define your play in that 2nd period as the "new" Jordin Tootoo?"
Jordin Tootoo - "Well I mean we were focused on one thing here, getting 2 points, and I'm a lot better player on the ice than I am in the penalty box. You know, you look at Peters he plays 5 minutes a game and I mean it's just, the trade off is not in our favor. I told him many times I'm a way better hockey player than he is and I'm better out on the ice."
Felder - "In that situation how hard is it though with a guy calling you out like that to resist that temptation?"
Tootoo - "No. When you are mentally focused that stuff just kinda goes in one ear and out the other. Tonight my main focus was to stay composed and not snap out there."
*
Felder - "Peks, how hard is it when you play a team from the other conference and you've rarely seen these guys, especially when you have a guy like Parise on the other end?"
Pekka Rinne - "I think most teams have at least one or two superstars and he's one of those guys, a great goal scorer. Obviously we don't see those guys too often but it's a nice change to play against them. I really like playing against Eastern teams so it's a nice chance."
*
Felder - "Tootoo was very disruptive in the 2nd period but showed a lot of restraint. Is that what you are looking for?"
Barry Trotz - "Yeah. We said, 'Toots, we just want you to play and be hard on people.' And he played. They were trying to goad him into a few majors, Peters I believe and Clarkson, and Toots just played, he played hard. They wanted to get him off of his game and he got them off their game."
Felder - "Was there any confusion on the bench after the Zajac shootout goal?"
Trotz - "A little bit. You look at it and you go did the puck stop. Really, the momentum of the puck never stopped and he didn't go in a different direction. He went into a slide, just like going from left to right, so he didn't come to a stop and the puck didn't come to a stop. If the puck had come to a stop and then he reached back and knocked it in, that would have not been a goal. But the puck was still moving so it was the right call."
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed watching this game. The defensive chess match and physical nature of the entire game was very interesting to watch personally. In the end, I thought this victory was well earned behind some fantastic performances by Parise, Arnott, and Rinne. The style the Preds are playing lately is very tough on opponents, and has produced wins. So, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. I'm pretty sure we'll see the same lineup come Saturday night.
The Predators next game is vs the Columbus Blue Jackets. These games between the two Central Division opponents always find a way to become a choppy, physical, and close game. I'm sure this game will be no different. Expect to see Mason vs Rinne when the puck drops at 7 pm CST.
Till then, take care.
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