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Preds Get 2nd Win in a Row and Knock Off EDM 5-2 |
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The Preds came home to Nashville and started the New Year on the best side of the win loss column. The Preds rode a 3 goal 1st period to the 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Felder’s Fantastic Five:
1. I really liked how the Preds jumped out early and forced the tempo of the game. That 1st period is one of the best the team has played all year.
2. Dan Ellis played an outstanding game. He stopped 26 shots and got his first save on a penalty shot in 3 tries. There were times were Dan really held the team in this game and didn’t allow Edmonton to gain much momentum to mount a comeback.
3. Although the coaches are still down on his defense Alexander Radulov played a great game on the offensive side of things. His move for the 1st goal was quite nice. Rudy ended the night with 2 goals on 3 shots and a +1 rating.
4. J.P. Dumont continues to be hot and scored for the 2nd game in a row. J.P. had a goal, an assist, a +1 rating, and had 1 takeaway as well.
5. I have to mention the captain stepping up and playing a big role in tonight’s game as well. Jason Arnott had a great diving goal on the PP and also added an assist on Rudy’s 2nd goal. Arnott finished the night with a +2 rating, had 2 shots, 2 hits, and 1 takeaway.
Other Notes:
• Before the game it was announced that new ownership has completely removed the “premium plus” pricing. This was an issue hotly debated by fans that really upset alot of people. Some would say this pricing system caused a couple sell outs to not be achieved. Specifically the Detroit games that are almost always at capacity were not earlier this season due to the pricing. I think most of the fans are happy the new ownership stepped up and removed this pricing system for the time being. This system could work when the foundation and fan base is stronger in the future.
• After all the pregame talk about not tinkering with the lineup too much since the team had success vs Dallas Barry Trotz did insert both Legwand and Suter into the lineup. Klein and Ortmeyer sat as Leggy even started the game……
• Edmonton was missing some key pieces if you looked at the scratch list. Out for Edmonton was Gagner, Hemsky, and the much maligned this season Sheldon Souray.
• Around 15:00 to go and J.P. Dumont gets up very gingerly off the ice after being checked into the boards awkwardly. He didn’t go to the locker room and actually was back on the ice for his next shift.
• 10:35 to go and Garon made an outstanding save that had to leave Arnott wondering how he didn’t score. Thankfully he stayed with the play because just moments later…..
• 10:29 to go and J.P. Dumont tallies off of a Ville Koistenen rebound. Garon was flustered after the save on Arnott.
• 9:05 to go and Edmonton has a mix up at their bench which Jerred Smithson takes advantage of and turns into a breakaway. Smithson made the most of his chance and buried the puck 5 hole through Garon for the Preds 2nd goal of the game.
• 5:41 to go in the 1st and Edmonton responds. The puck lay at Zids feet and then Stortinin took advantage, got a shot off, and it beat a sprawling Ellis who was reaching to cover the puck from my view point.
• Suter still looks a little slower than normal to me. Not saying he should have sat, but I don’t see the harm in letting him get back to 100%. Just a little bit of rusty wheels.
• Radulov with a very nice play and finally a goal after such a nice move. Radulov simply outskated the forward, then waited for the D man to fall, maneuvered around him, then beat Garon. Go check the highlight real because this “talent” (as Mr. Trotz put it) made a great play and highlight goal.
• At one point just after that goal Trotz had Arnott centering Dumont and Radulov. Putting the goal scorers together with the Captain.
• Lots of scoring chances, shots, hard work, and finally even some goals for the Preds in that 1st period. They had great puck possession in Edmonton’s end and they clearly were trying to take advantage of Edmonton’s possible fatigue. That was one of the best periods I’ve seen the Preds play this year.
• 20 shots in the 1st period. That my friends is what I LOVE to see when playing a team that’s in its’ second consecutive night of play. That ties their highest total for the season when they had 20 shots in the 3rd period vs Montreal back on December 1st.
• 13:45 to go in the 2nd period and an Oiler’s stick gets stuck in the glass. One fortunate fan decided this was a rare opportunity to get a free stick. He promptly pulled the stick through the glass to his seat. Just a real funny moment….. The fan then had to give the stick back however and the refs were booed soundly for making him do this.
• Then a great gesture by the Preds as a player skates over to give him one of their sticks, but then the refs wouldn’t allow that either. Very interesting off ice thing. I wonder if he’ll get a stick after the game…….
• A PP goal for the Preds. Erat sent the puck to Zids who took it in on Garon. After trying a move the puck was loose in the blue paint and Arnott dove to push the puck in for a PP goal.
• 12 fights to go for Hordi to reach his prediction. He took on Edmonton’s Zach Stortini. It was a good fight but I do give the advantage to Hordi in this one. That MMA training paid off.
• 10:19 to go. Zids on the PK gives the puck up and sends Kyle Brodziak in on a breakaway. Ellis makes the save, but then Zids in his attempt to stop Brodziak gets a penalty which is then turned into a penalty shot for Brodziak. Ellis made the save on the penalty shot. Ellis having a great night thus far in net and gaining even more confidence.
• 8:58 to go and the Preds are on the PP. The puck was going in the net until Tom Gilbert made the stick save and somehow pushed the puck out. Very close call for Edmonton which would have surely put the game away.
• 8:15 to go and another breakaway for Edmonton. This time Hammer stopped the chance with a great poke check from behind that prevented Ellis from having to make a save.
• I’m not sure how Edmonton fans feel (hopefully they will let me know in this blog) but I would love to have Dustin Penner on my team. The biggest thing I noticed throughout the game is how tough he is to get away from the front of the net. He causes lots of problems for D-men and is a great player.
• 16:05 to go in the 3rd and Ethan Moreau beats Ellis by putting the puck off the goaltenders side. Ellis appeared to have lost the puck and didn’t get across to the other post in time to stop the PP tally.
• 13:06 and a great forecheck by Arnott lead to Radulov’s 2nd goal of the game. Arnott stole the puck from Joni Pitkanen then set up Radu right in front of the net.
• Scott Nichol was flying all over the ice tonight and looked especially good on the PK, as usual.
My Three Stars:
1. Radulov
2. Arnott
3. Ellis
Goalie Grade: A – The starting goaltender tonight was Dan Ellis. Dan is making his case to be the starter on a full time basis.
Ref Review: B – Through the 1st period it seemed like you would have to do something very blatant to get a call. There were a few times in the 1st that I though both teams got away with some things. Things didn’t change much throughout and if you go off of the fact that this crew just lets the guys play most of the time then tonight’s game was well officiated. Tonight’s crew was Dan Marouelli, Chris Rooney, Steve Barton, and Brian Murphy.
Quotes:
As always keep in mind that all my quotes come directly from questions that I ask. I do not pull them from other reporters questions......
“I’m not getting motivation from that. I motivate myself. If you can’t take criticism then you shouldn’t be in this game.” – Vern Fiddler on if he was motivated by Trotz calling him out in the media.
“Whenever you get in the net more and more often you start to feel more comfortable. You start to see the puck a little better and get into a rhythm. Sometimes if you sit you can get some rust of bad practice habits and those things can creep into your game but I’ve gotten to play a good bit lately and feel pretty good in there.” – Dan Ellis on these past few games building confidence.
“He just snuck it through my arm pit. I even thought I had it but I guess when the ref says it is in the net then I don’t have it! (laughs)” – Ellis on the Edm. PP goal.
“I didn’t realize really why he got the penalty shot because I thought he had a pretty good opportunity. I didn’t see our guy even touch him. Usually there is a trip or there is a strong hook or something but I guess Zidlicky just gave him a bit of a poke and that was enough for them to call it, but fortunately he made the same move twice.” – Ellis on the penalty shot.
“I saw a little of the replay but didn’t really see it happen. He wasn’t wanting to give the stick back. He didn’t realize you have to give the stick back, it isn’t like a puck going into the stands. He was kind of refusing to give it back and then they brought in the heavy artillery, the heavy security (laughs) and forced him to give it back. Scott Nichol tried to come over, and being a hometown fan and stuff was trying to help him out and give him a stick but the refs had nothing of it. Hopefully he ended up with one by the end of the night. It’s a fan game and we are here to bring more fans and that’s the way we do it here in Nashville.” – Ellis on the fan who took a stick from the glass.
“I think the fan was a little more particular on whose stick he wanted. We tried to please him but I think he ended up getting whose stick he wanted. Scotty wanted to give him his but apparently he didn’t want to take it I guess.” – Trotz on Nichol trying to give the fan his stick.
Final Thoughts: The Predators next game will be this Saturday right back at home. This time the Preds will try to avenge a loss the Minnesota Wild earlier this season. The puck drops at 7 PM CST and this game can be seen on FSN South in case you can’t make the trip to the Sommet. Until then, take care Pred fans.
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