Maybe it's just my natural pessimism or my lowered expectations going into the season. Regardless, I am usually very hesitant to say a team is good and should make the playoffs. That said, with yet another Nashville Predators win, this time a 6-3 final in Edmonton, I can't help but look at the recent play and begin to think that playoff expectations should be had here.
Down 2-0 early, Barry Trotz made the curious move of pulling starting goaltender Pekka Rinne and inserting Dan Ellis. Now, whether or not that particular move woke the team up or not is certainly debatable. What that move will do to Peks confidence is another debate as well since I remember a similar situation occurring to Elly last season. Anyways, I digress. The Preds stormed back like any playoff contender would and ended up with a 3-2 lead heading into the 1st intermission. Nashville would not relinquish the lead from that point on.
I am finally convinced that this team should make the playoffs. The ingredients are there. I wasn't convinced before the season that the goal scoring would occur. However, that key phrase "depth scoring" that I was concerned about from pre-season on has finally taken care of itself. Look at the last two games as evidence. On Tuesday, the Predators had 7 different goal scorers in their 7-4 win over Tampa. Tonight, 5 different goal scorers make up the 6 total goals against. Patric Hornqvist was the lone multi-goal scorer for Nashville with his #1 Star performance of 2 goals, 1 assist, +2 rating, and 3 shots on goal. The scoring is being spread around. I think Wade Belak's second point of the season is proof of that.
Alas, it is not an ALL positive win. Yet again a game with 15+ giveaways (19 tonight), and yet again a night in which the pairing of Hamhuis and Klein looks all the more curious. The special teams units had their bumps in the road as well.
There are however lots of things to feel good about in this game, as I'm sure many of you will discuss in the comments. Let me mention a couple though.
Ryan Jones collects his 4th goal in 4 games. He really appears to have grasped what things need to be done at the NHL level in this recent call-up. Now, why a player that has a goal in 4 consecutive games only merits 8:23 of TOI is beyond me, but then again I clearly am not a hockey coach, but rather a curious observer.
Always nice to see hard working players like Marcel Goc, Jerred Smithson and Joel Ward get rewarded with some goals. Don't look now, but Smithers now has 6 goals on the season. Not too shabby for a guy who's primary role is a penalty killer and grinder.
One thing is for sure after this game. The defensemen have to stop giving the puck away. Hamhuis, Franson, and Bouillon each had 3 giveaways to their credit. Weber and Klein each added 1 as well.
How about this… Martin Erat led the team with 3 blocked shots. Ryan Suter had 2 as well.
2. Nilsson - 2 goals, -1 rating, game leading 6 SOG, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot.
3. Suter - 2 assist, +3 rating, 1 takeaway, 2 blocked shots, and only D-man without a giveaway.
So, although it was a different post-game than you are used to, hope you enjoyed my quick thoughts on the game. Just another solid game from what appears to be a very solid team.
The Predators next game is Saturday afternoon in Calgary. A day time affair at 3 PM CST. This one can be seen on FS-TN.
Till then, take care.
Questions, comments, and criticisms can be sent to [email protected] if you wish to contact me personally.
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