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Game 1: Preds Give Kraken First Franchise Win

October 15, 2021, 7:56 PM ET [3 Comments]
Clay Brewer
Nashville Predators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I have had to temper my emotions prior to writing this in order to provide an objective-ish analysis. To say I left the game highly disappointed last night would be quite the understatement.

Lines

Forsberg – Johansen – Duchene
Tolvanen- Granlund – Kunin
Cousins – Glass – Tomasino
Trenin – Sissons – Jeannot

Josi – Carrier

Ekholm – Myers
Harpur – Fabbro

Saros
Rittich

Healthy Scratches
Grimaldi
Benning
Borowiecki

IR
Olivier

As for the analysis, let’s start with the organization as a whole and then narrow our approach to the on-ice performance and the team in general.

Frankly, the organization needs to lose its arrogance. Plain and simple. This is not the Preds of the Stanley Cup Final run, so it’s time to stop acting like it. The game off-ice was dull and boring. Even the songs and introductions are predictable now. I understand this is not necessarily hockey related, but I feel that there is a strong correlation in the atmosphere within the building to how the team performs night in and night out. When the hockey world was introduced to Nashville during the All-Star Game and during the Cup run the next year, the city was electric, the fans were electric, the atmosphere within the arena was electric. People loved our town, opposing teams feared ours. As a Nashville native and Preds fan since their inception in ‘98, that appreciation of my town and the realization that this organization has it right was an incredible feeling. But recognition should not result in complacency and mediocrity but rather should result in continued innovation and be the driving force for what other teams are doing. Remember the next year with the welcoming of Vegas, they were comparing them to Nashville saying that the atmospheres were both so electric and represented their respective cities to a T. But unfortunately, in my opinion, the organization has lost its touch. Go back and watch the introduction for Vegas and compare it to that of last night in Nashville. It’s a full-on party to, well . . . an afternoon soiree. Players feed off of this energy. It’s evident in Vegas’s play and I think it is evident in the opposite direction for the Preds. I’m not saying that the games are no longer a good time, but for someone that has attended countless games, the atmosphere is becoming dampened and predictable. Change it up! Sounds crazy, but I’d wager this would change play to a degree and get the fans more involved as well. Save the these are professionals argument. Home ice should be home ice.

As for the hockey and the game against the Kraken, there were some good moments and there were absolutely atrocious moments. The latter of which cost the Preds the game and put this team in the record books once more, granting Seattle their first win. How lovely.

The lineup itself was not disappointing, as I agreed with most of the decisions. Why Hynes resorts to Harpur and another big body though I do not know. Ekholm and Myers can fill the size void, if that’s what you call it. But to place an evolving star defenseman in Fabbro with Harpur only stunts his growth in my opinion all while Harpur brings no genuine value to this team in the places it needs help, e.g., fast breaks out of the zone, long stretch passes, speed. If you’re going to have a player in the game for his size, then he should be freely using that size to clear the slot and ensure there are no pucks passed through that area to the backdoor. However, on the penalty kill, of many, that is exactly what happened. Granted, players can make mistakes and should not be judged on them entirely, but when mistakes become trends to which we are all familiar, maybe that’s not a mistake but more so the way they play. Just a thought.

The team started strong and cleared the front of the net nicely allowing Saros to see everything into his glove and having no real issues. The first big shot from Larsson up top was a perfect example with Josi and Carrier pushing their guy to the side and allowing Saros plenty of eyesight. The next strong moment came from none other than Granlund. Love his play, and he’s a hard worker with skill that is showing. The face-off push forward, Kunin coming in to support, and then a tap out to Tolvanen for the score to make it 1-0. Things were looking up with the Preds getting on the board early. A lost face off turned to puck control and goal is great effort.

For the first Kraken goal, it was a meaningless dump shot from the point with Fabbro trying to recover and man up Schwartz in the slot. Not entirely sure what was going on there as Fabbro simply appeared to be recovering to his side of the ice and got caught in the middle resulting in an additional screen for Saros and deflecting in. Another PP goal against the Preds. Nothing to worry about, it happens. As long as you learn from your mistakes. it’s a 1-1 game.

But the Tanev show soon starts with another PP goal. Again, Harpur and Fabbro are the D pair on the ice. As a side note, I’m not sure why the third D pair is constantly out on the PK. Anyways, Fabbro and Harpur shifted appropriately as the puck came down the right side of the ice but then Harpur goes down on one knee to block the pass through the slot to miss it for Tanev to have the easy tap in. I don’t like this play. You are of no use on your knees or otherwise unless it’s to block a shot or stop a fast break pass. I’d much rather the puck come through the slot with the D having two hands on the stick to (1) break up the pass and/or (2) lift the opponent’s stick. On the ice you are of no use once you are isolated. The puck was missed and it ended up in the back of the net, 2-1 Kraken.

On the plus side, Trenin was fighting hard all night, both figuratively and literally. He has the grit that this team badly needs. Very noticeable and he is a value to this team using his big frame to his benefit and not just to take up space. This line was solid for most of the night, getting chances, throwing their bodies. They couldn’t quite bury any chances, but the skill in combination with the size is becoming evident. They are not just the beat you up line anymore, they can toe drag and produce some nice chances as well.

A bright spot for this team comes with their second goal, a PP goal might I add. Surprise, surprise I know. Their zone entry is much smoother now, looking for stretch passes and carrying into the zone with speed as opposed to the random drop passes that everyone sees coming and the small little pass at the blueline that always gets intercepted or blocked to delay the entry. Sure, all of this is still there, but at least it’s getting better. Nice pass from Forsberg to Josi with the massive shot. Johansen and Granlund did a great job getting in front. 2-2. The PP is a bright spot to take out of this game.

On the Kraken’s third goal, I’ll just let you guess who the weak-side defender was here for a second before you continue reading. Before you go look it up, yes, you are right. It was Harpur indeed. I understand that the pairing was in the midst of a change so it was Harpur with Carrier but when Carrier is deep in the corner fighting for the puck, it’s mite hockey knowledge that the weak-side D should be covering the slot with the center supporting in between them both. Johansen had shifted with Tomasino so we will let that slide, somewhat. Johansen was still very lazy in his effort here and should have prevented the pass down low all together in my opinion. He missed the stick lift when the pass came from the corner into the circle. However, it should have been prevented all together but no idea why Harpur’s back was to the play. That was his man entirely. As for Tomasino, he is a young player getting used to the game and Johansen was above the strong-side circle as a winger should be. I have some disgruntlement with Forsberg since his head needs to be on a swivel and monitor both his D and also the backdoor. Weinberg did not even have to one time the puck in, but he caught it off his skate and then took the time to bury it. Harpur should have been there and Forsberg should have dropped down. A cross ice pass from the corner to that D is very unlikely and if he wants to try it, be my guest. The backdoor pass is much more dangerous here. 3-2 Kraken.

Tomasino and Glass seem to be finding some chemistry together, which is great to see. As I have mentioned before, both of these players need to find some confidence because I think their futures are bright. Glass is always in great positioning, while Tomasino is thinking the right thing but is not yet at the NHL-level speed to make it happen. It will come.

The Preds dominated the third period, but when you cannot bury your chances it means nothing. The Granlund goal was a strong effort and exactly how you bury the puck while in front. It only came too late after the Kraken netted the empty netter. The Tanev show concluded appropriately.

Preds lose 4-3.

All in all, it was not as horrible as most pundits would like for you to think. But what the Preds’ weaknesses have always been continue to be their weaknesses: Inability to bury chances, lack of shots, abundance of letting shots up, and costly positioning errors that result in goals. Hynes’ system is built for fast breaks out and collapsing in. The fast break out part is improving, but the collapsing in part is proving problematic as of last night’s showing. One small crack in the wall and it’s truly game changing.

The Preds are back at it tomorrow, Saturday, October 16, against Carolina at Bridgestone. Hopefully they can turn it around against a team that will be a proven competitor this year having only gotten better since the last matchup.

81 games to go, along with a lot of work.
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