In a battle between the #4 and #5 teams in the Western Conference you had to wonder which players would really shine. I think few people would have predicted former Pred Scottie Upshall to take center stage. His 3rd period natural hat trick helped tie and win the game for Phoenix with a 4-2 final score that now propels the Coyotes ahead of the Predators in the standings.
Felder’s FRUSTRATED Five:
1. Bury Your Chances - Ah, we return to this point. How many times have we seen this team put up a double digit shots on goal count in a period to come away with next to nothing on the scoreboard. This trend is the sole reason I feel the Preds need to add one proven goal scorer via trade. Outside of Patric Hornqvist, there is no go-to goal scorer on the team this year. The top line players need to return to their goal scoring ways to truly give this team a chance to do damage in the playoffs.
2. Puck Possession - For once I thought the Preds may not have passes enough. It felt like the puck was a hot potato and needed to be put on net as soon as possible. The Coyotes performed a rare feat and actually won more faceoffs than Predators with a 58% faceoff winning percentage.
3. Oh… That Man Advantage - They had a chance to take the lead in the 3rd period and failed to do so. In a game featuring just 2 penalties called (both against Phoenix) the Preds mustered just 3 PP SOG. It is what it is when it come to this teams special teams, but I have a feeling that if things don't improve we may see this time slide a bit in March when taking advantage of these opportunities will be critical as games tighten up even more.
4. D-Men Missing Details - Not calling anyone out here, just noticing that tonight the details weren't really there for the defense. They weren't very effective in clearing the crease and cause their goaltender some problems with the sight lines and blocking his view. These things happen but when it causes two of the four goals against it should be noted.
5. Bits of Other Info - Jerred Smithson and Joel Ward had a tough night finishing -3. Just 1 shot on goal for Legwand and Sullivan. Arnott had 2 SOG. Hornqvist completely leading this team right now and his 8 SOG should be noted. The BEAST quietly had a big night. 6 SOG and 7 hits stand out. Three different Preds had 3 blocked shots: Hamhuis, Klein, and Hornqvist.
Other Notes:
* Tonight’s scratches for Nashville were Alex Sulzer and J.P. Dumont. He has the flu and did not travel with the team, however, he may rejoin the team tomorrow night in Colorado if he feels better. For the Coyotes, they had Anders Eriksson and Daniel Winnik scratched while Kurt Sauer remains on IR.
* 1ST PERIOD
* We'll call it a feeling out period as both teams poked and prodded a little, but didn't threaten too much.
* END OF THE 1ST PERIOD – NSH: 0 PHX: 0.Positives - Outshot the Yotes 15-4. Creating scoring chances more regularly than normal 1st periods. Negatives - Nothing to show for that double digit shot count..
* 2ND PERIOD
* GOAL for PHOENIX - 17:11 to go. Joel Ward gets caught along the boards and tries to backhand the puck up through the middle of the ice. The puck is kept in by Adrian Aucoin who immediately finds the Phoenix captain Shane Doan low and just inside the circle to Ellis' glove side. Doan recognizes that he's drawn the attention of Cody Franson on his back side and leaves the puck off for Matthew Lombardi to wire it five-hole before Dan Ellis could drop into the butterfly. Really vet play by Doan here to draw the D-man and give his line mate a clear path to the goalie. Lombardi (9) from Doan (18) and Aucoin (14). Phoenix takes a 1-0 lead.
* GOAL for NASHVILLE - 6:03 to go. Hornqvist become the first Pred to 20 goals this season. A bouncing puck goes through the crease. Hornqvist gets a shot on goal but Bryzgalov makes the stop with the right leg pad. The rebound goes behind the net and then Hornqvist pulls a Sullivan move and banks the puck in off the back of Bryzgalov and in. Hornqvist (20) from Arnott (15) and Sullivan (22). This game is now tied at 1.
* GOAL for NASHVILLE - 5:23 to go. Marty Erat gets back on the scoreboard. Ed Jovanovski mishandles a cross ice pass from Zbynek Michalek in their own end. Jovo Cop just can't get control of the puck and then Erat steals it away, has Bryzgalov guessing, waits it out, and then roofs the puck over the downed Phoenix goaltender. Bryzgalov has no chance on this as he was out of the net a bit and Marty took full advantage of angling the puck behind him on the stick side. Effective forechecking and a turnover give the Preds a goal. Erat (16) unassisted. Preds have now taken 40 seconds to comeback and take a lead.
* END OF THE 2ND PERIOD – NSH: 2 PHX: 1. Positives - Took advantage of Phoenix mistakes and finally capitalized. Lead shots on goal 24-16. Negatives - Out shot 12-9 that period. A little soft on the first half of the 2nd period. PHX winning 54% of faceoffs.
* 3RD PERIOD
* GOAL for PHOENIX - 15:58 to go. Former Pred Scottie Upshall fires one along the ice and slips the puck just by the left leg pad of Ellis and in. Doan again with a primary assist as he drew Pred defenseman Dan Hamhuis towards him along the boards. This left Kevin Klein as the lone man to take Upshall. Ellis has to shift to the right to see beyond Kleiner and Upshall used that to put the puck back across the body and in low glove side. That adjustment to the right cost Ellis. Upshall (15) from Doan (19) and Keith Yandle (18). This one is now tied at 2.
* GOAL for PHOENIX - 6:38 to go. Upshall scores on his former team again, this time with a rebound goal. Upshall took an initial shot, stayed with it in the crease and gets the rebound shot up and over Ellis high stick side. Kevin Klein failed to clear Upshall from the crease to prevent a rebound shot. Upshall (16) from Lombardi (23) and Doan (20). The Yotes take a late 3-2 lead.
* GOAL for PHOENIX - 5:33 to go. It's the all Scottie show as Upshall gets the natural hat trick against his former team. A nice soft flip into the neutral zone by Martin Hanzal gives Upshall a foot race for a breakaway. Scottie raced down the ice with Erat trailing, got Ellis to come out, decked, and then slipped the puck in 5-hole for his first career hat trick. What a night for the former Nashville Predator. Upshall (17) from Hanzal (18) and James Vandermeer (6). The Coyotes now have a quick 4-2 lead late in the 3rd period thanks to the Upshall heroics.
* 2:06 to go and Ellis reaches the bench for the extra attacker.
2. Doan - 3 assists, +2, 3 hits, and 1 faceoff win on the only faceoff he took.
3. Bryzgalov - 41 saves on 43 shots against. Kept Phoenix alive in the 1st period.
Goalie Grade:C+ – The starting goaltender tonight was Dan Ellis. Danny finished the game with 19 saves on 23 shots against. The first Upshall goal was a softie. You have to stop that one and looking back, that one was more critical than first thought since it got the momentum fully rolling. Lombardi goal is a giveaway turned odd man rush/breakaway. The second Upshall goal is your D failing to clear the crease, and then the hat trick goal is a breakaway. It's unfortunate that the only bad goal against Ellis was the turning point, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
Final Thoughts:
That was the prime example of taking a goal, using its' momentum, getting the home crowd behind you, and then rolling to a win. A strong night for Scottie Upshall that will have many a Pred fan pondering the what if questions regarding him if he was still a Pred. All in all, you have to give the Coyotes credit for weathering the 1st period and then taking full control in the final frame. They earned the 2 points and the Preds inability to bury the puck in the 1st and 3rd periods cost them.
The Predators next game is less than 24 hours away. The Colorado Avalanche will play host to Nashville as we will more than likely see Pekka Rinne in net when the two teams face off at 8 pm CST. This game will be shown on FS-TN and in HD so don't miss it.
Till the next time, take care.
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