It’s hard to fathom that a series can turn on a short-handed goal for two straight seasons but that seems to be the playoff reality for these Nashville Predators. Last year it was the waning moments of game five, this year, the early part of game four. A floating seeing eye backhand from the stick of Corey Perry found its way into the net and let the air out of a packed Bridgestone Arena. The Predators never seemed to recover, and now the series is a best of three, with the Anaheim Ducks recapturing home ice advantage.
Coming into the third period, the Predators had the momentum, a couple of comebacks, and a power play gave them that. It’s tough to understand how a team can come out flat in a situation like that, but that is exactly what happened. Three goals in less than six minutes and that was all she wrote. Pekka Rinne was pulled in favor of Anders Lindback after giving up six goals. Pred Nation has been very used to Rinne being all-world throughout the season and while his teammates were quick to shoulder the blame for the loss, Rinne took his share of the responsibility as well.
The other major story to come out of last night’s game was the hit on Martin Erat. No matter how Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle tries to spin it, Rutuu’s hit was shoulder to head. Incredibly, in his post-game comments, Carlyle actually said that the hit didn’t even deserve a penalty! Heck, even the Globe and Mail (no friend of the Predators) called it both a blind side hit and a head shot.
Well, if you want to know why the league is having trouble eliminating head shots, look no further than the excusing away of this kind of hit by this coach. I’ve been watching hockey for a long time, I have never seen a player knocked out by a shoulder-to-shoulder hit. I’m sure that Anaheim GM Bob Murray will call Erat a diver as well, given the lack of respect he shows to the competition and the game. We will see what Colin Campbell's "Magic 8-Ball of Justice" comes up with for this one.
Erat’s status will be updated today but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Colin Wilson back in the lineup tomorrow night for Game 5 if Erat can't go. He’s been cooling his heels and itching to get back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first four games.
A disappointing loss to be sure, but not the end of the world as there are quite a few things to look forward to in game five. Primary among them… Pekka Rinne always bounces back strong from a difficult performance. This series is playing out as one that may go the distance, especially when you consider that the teams have traded wins over the first four games. The Preds have won games 1 & 3, the Ducks games 2 & 4, if that trend holds…
The teams travel back to Anaheim today for Friday’s game five.
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Random Notes
- David Poile has been nominated for GM of the Year for the second consecutive year. The other nominees are Mike Gillis of Vancouver and Steve Yzerman of Tampa Bay. A richly deserved nomination to a general manager a fan base can be very proud to call their own.
- I’ll say it… it was painfully obvious to this observer that Anaheim GM Bob Murray’s whining paid off. It’s a shame that his lack of respect for the players, the officials and the game was rewarded. See, that is the problem with selling yourself out like that… a good game from the Ducks is overshadowed by the silly comments of their GM.
- I am really wondering at the lack of observation from the on ice officials, time after time in last night’s game, Anaheim was allowed to swap players right before a faceoff, or even more incredibly, after an icing call. So much for the home team getting the last change…
- Sunday’s game six still has a TBD for the start time. For those worried about conflicts with Easter services, I have heard that the start time will either be 5pm or 7pm… Expect some sort of announcement later today.
- An "Only in Smashville" moment last night as Vince Gill and Mrs. Mike Fisher played during the first intermission.
- The first team thru to the conference semi-finals is the Detroit Red Wings, they completed their sweep of the Phoenix Coyotes last night at Jobing.com Arena.
- A double shot of double OT as this year’s Winter Classic participants put strangleholds on their series last night, Washington beat the Rangers 4-3 and Pittsburgh beat Tampa Bay 3-2. The Pens and Caps each hold a 3-1 series lead.
- Ryan Miller was incredible between the pipes last night as Buffalo knotted their series with Philadelphia at 2-2. Miller’s 1-0 shutout was a masterpiece. Game five is in Philly on Friday night.
- Really looking forward to tonight’s Canucks/Blackhawks game five. It will be worth the lack of sleep.
- Tonight’s playoff schedule – Boston @ Montreal – Habs lead 2-1, 6pm CDT (Versus, CBC), Chicago @ Vancouver – Canucks lead 3-1, 9pm CDT (Versus, CBC)), San Jose @ Los Angeles – Sharks lead 2-1, 9:30pm CDT (Regional, TSN)
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