It was unexpected but certainly welcomed. The Pittsburgh Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Nashville Predators, but the Preds responded by reeling off 5 goals in a row. The Preds take the 2 points with a 5-3 victory and send the 14,297 fans in attendance away to claim their Frosties for the first time since October 25th.
Felder’s FANTASTIC Five:
1. That's What A Top Line Does - They score goals. Tonight the top line consisted of 11, 19, and 10. Combined that line had 2 goals, 4 assists, and 9 shots on goal. Credit to Erat and Legwand for finally stepping up the offense. It was about time. This line responded after being on the ice for the Pens 3 goals.
2. Hammer and Zanon Shut Down Sid and Geno - What a night by that pairing. Sidney Crosby had 0 shots on goal and Evgeni Malkin had just 1 shot on goal. Yes, I know Crosby had 2 assists, but to hold him to ZERO shots even attempted.... That's fantastic D. Hamhuis and Zanon were given the assignment of shutting them down according to Barry Trotz, and they did that for the most part. Dan Hamhuis finished the night with 1 assist, a +2 rating, had 3 shots on goal, 1 hit, 3 takeaways, and 2 blocked shots. Greg Zanon had 1 goal, 1 assist, a +2 rating, 2 shots on goal, 3 hits, 1 takeaway, and 1 blocked shot.
3. The Power Play Wins A Game - I almost can't believe I'm typing that but sure enough, Ryan Suter's PP goal was the game winner. Fans have grown accustom to this unit failing to do things late in games, but tonight they stepped up. The PP had 4 shots on goal tonight during their 3 opportunities. If they could continue this I may even drop the man advantage tag I've given them.
4. Young Guys Create a Spark? - Maybe the call ups of Ryan Jones and Mike Santorelli sparked Erat and Legwand. Regardless, the line of 28, 53, and 71 really set the tone early in the game with some opportunities. Later on they faded a bit, but I did like the budding chemistry I saw.
5. Push The Mind Games Away - It would have been really easy for this team to quit after being down 3-0. The common thought throughout the arena was most likely there was no way this team scores 4 goals. I love it when they prove us wrong. The guys pushed the mental blockages out of the way, and found a way to rally. That's impressive considering the 5 game losing streak they were on.
Other Notes:
* Tonight’s scratches were Greg de Vries, Wade Belak, and Rich Peverley.
* 1ST PERIOD
* 12:36 to go and the Preds D is doing a great job so far at limiting the Penguins time and space. In fact, the Pens have yet to register a shot on goal. That's solid D my friends. Very solid D.
* 10:45 to go and we see our first flash of offensive creativity from the Jones, Mike Santorelli, Dumont line. Santorelli wheeled around behind the net, fire the puck at Marc-Andre Fleury with Ryan Jones crashing the net hard. The rebound popped out to the top of the crease where J.P. was driving hard and fired off a shot. Fleury made a great stop from his back. Nice pressure there from that line.
* 6:45 remains and Pittsburgh finally gets it first shot on goal after a faceoff win. Took them long enough...
* GOAL for PITTSBURGH - 5:42 remains. Dan Hamhuis attempts to clear the puck out of the Nashville zone right in front of Ellis, but sends the puck to Sidney Crosby instead. Crosby takes a stride towards Dan and then find Petr Sykora on the back door slot. Sykora rips one by Ellis high glove and gives the Penguins a lead with just their 3rd shot on goal. Not much chance for Dan there since you have to respect Crosby coming at you down the middle of the ice. Sykora from Crosby. Penguins lead 1-0.
* Quite a few Penguin fans in the building tonight. Almost like a Detroit game from year's past. There was plenty of cheering on the Sykora goal that's for sure.
* END OF THE 1ST PERIOD – NSH: 0 PIT: 1. Positives - Limited the Penguins to 5 shots on goal while the Preds put up 13 shots on goal. Negatives - One failed clearing attempt cost the Preds. Dan Hamhuis must do a better job of getting the puck out of the zone, especially against a team with such a potent counter attack.
* 2ND PERIOD
* GOAL for PITTSBURGH - 16:31 to go. Jordan Staal lets off a backhander in the slot. The rebound comes out to Ryan Suter who tries to clear the puck to the corner, but instead banks the puck off of Jason Arnott next to the net and in past Ellis. If it wasn't for bad luck, the Preds would probably have no luck at all. Staal from Tyler Kennedy and Crosby. Penguins lead 2-0.
* Pekka Rinne was brought into net after that goal. I really don't understand that one at all. If I was Dan Ellis I would be so pissed with Barry Trotz right now. Pulling him from the net when he gave up two goals that were not his fault is puzzling to say the least.
* GOAL for PITTSBURGH - 16:10 to go. Rebound goes back door where Maxime Talbot buries it. Legwand was between the two Pens and did not get a stick on the puck that was passed through the crease. The Penguin's speed is blistering the Preds as Pekka gets a quick welcome to the net. Talbot from Matt Cooke. Penguins lead 3-0 now.
* GOAL for NASHVILLE - 12:03 to go. Martin Erat finally gets on the score sheet after he takes the puck from the side of the net, wheels around to the other side and roofs home a backhander. Erat had misses his chance along the ice on Fleury's stick side, kept the puck through the crease, then fired off the backhand tally. Pred captain Jason Arnott had drawn a penalty in the course of the shift. Erat from Legwand and Arnott. The Pittsburgh lead is cut down a little and is now 3-1.
* SHORTHANDED GOAL for NASHVILLE - 6:28 to go. Martin Erat takes the puck away from 19. Erat rushes up the ice with Legwand on the right slot. Marty looked to pass the whole way and then found Legwand's tape for the tap in shorthanded goal on the back door. A nice play to take the puck at the blueline by Marty. Legwand from Erat and Zanon. Penguins lead is now only 3-2.
* GOAL for NASHVILLE - 54.6 to go. Who would have guessed? This time we have Jerred Smithson cruise into the middle of the ice from Fleury's right and then Smithers let off a high glove tally with Philippe Boucher draped on his back. Big credit goes to Joel Ward battling in the corner, fell, and then made a diving pass to Smithson coming off the boards. It should be noted that Smithson skated by Crosby to open up the space for a shot just beyond the blue paint. Smithson from Ward and Hamhuis. This game is actually tied at 3.
* END OF THE 2ND PERIOD – NSH: 3 PIT: 3. Positives - Nashville has mounted a comeback from being down 3. They limited the Penguins to just 5 shots on goal for the 2nd period in a row. Preds racked up 17 shots on goal that period. Negatives - Gave up some bad goals. I felt Ellis was unfairly pulled.
* 3RD PERIOD
* 11:48 to go and Pekka Rinne makes a nice little glove save on Boucher. Crosby was behind the net and set up Boucher on the back door. Rinne gloved it down with ease, but it should be note that the puck was a touch wide right of the net.
* POWER PLAY GOAL for NASHVILLE - 10:56 to go in the game. Ryan Suter lets one go from the point and it tips in off Mark Eaton's hand. After it hit Eaton the puck dipped just below Fleury's glove and went in for the PP tally. This game has every way of scoring for the Preds. Interesting to note that the Pens had outshot the Preds 10-2 in the period before the goal. Suter from Arnott and Weber. Preds take a 4-3 lead.
* 1:15 to go and the Pens pull MAF from the net in favor of an extra attacker.
* EMPTY NET GOAL for NASHVILLE - 22.4 to go. Greg Zanon drops to block an in air pass, then fires off a quick wrister near the center red line and tallies the empty netter. Nice play by Z right there. Preds seal this one 5-3. Unassisted goal for Zanon.
* FINAL SCORE – NSH - 5 PIT - 3.
My Three Stars:
1. David Legwand - 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots on goal, and 1 hit.
2. Ryan Suter - Game winning goal, 2 shots on goal, 2 hits, and 1 blocked shot.
3. Pekka Rinne - 17 saves on 18 Penguin shots against him. Carried the team in the 3rd.
Goalie Grades:A- for Ellis and an A for Rinne – The starting goaltender tonight was Dan Ellis. Dan was pulled after the 2nd Penguin goal, and according to Trotz it was due to trying to change the luck and not a reflection of Dan's play. I personally thought Dan was fine and felt bad that he was, in my eyes, unjustly pulled. Rinne came in, gave up a goal on the first shot against, and then shut the door the rest of the way. Tonight, both goaltenders played well and I can't fault them for even one of the goals. Giveaways and bad bounces beat them.
Quotes:
Brandon Felder - "Do you feel like this may be a win that could spring board this team?"
Jason Arnott - "Well it's certainly a start. No question when you go through times like that and then have a game like that against a team that is really really good offensively it's a huge boost for us. But it's one game and we have to keep rolling, keep the confidence level high, and just keep working hard like we have been."
*
Felder - "Obviously the game wasn't a great start but it was really bad luck goals. Were you at all frustrated by getting pulled there?"
Dan Ellis - "I think it was stupid. Bottom line. It's the exact same thing as last year. So yeah I was frustrated. Absolutely. I can't stop both teams."
*
Felder - "Despite the early turnover, Dan Hamhuis finished the game with a solid effort."
Barry Trotz - "Yeah. Hammer had a big assignment, he was against Malkin when Crosby and Malkin were separated. When they were put together they stayed out against them and did a real good job. Hammer was being physical and doing a lot of things. Hammer, to me, when he has a specific assignment is a real solid defenseman. Sometimes I think he tries to get away from that part of his game and I think he's really good at it when he plays that game. I though he was hard on those guys so give him and Greg Zanon a lot of credit."
Final Thoughts:
Well I don't think anyone had that game predicted the way it went. The Preds scored in every way imaginable except on a penalty shot. Even strength goals from Erat and Smithson. Power play goal from Suter. Shorthanded goal from Legwand. Empty net goal for Zanon. That's an entertaining hockey game. Very nice to see this team make a comeback and show that never quit attitude the fans have grown accustomed to from this team.
The Predators have chosen a good time to break out on offense. Hopefully they can carry this effort over to this Saturday night vs Chicago. Everyone remember that the game has been pushed back to a 7:30 pm CST start time to accomodate for the Titans playoff game. If you don't have tickets to this one yet you better get some fast since this game is scheduled to be the return of Steve Sullivan after almost 2 years. I hope and expect to see a full house.
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