The Nashville Predators and Phoenix Coyotes entered the game with plenty of similarities. By the end of the contest, the Coyotes youth and offensive proved to be just a bit better. The Predators only mustered one goal against, as Kyle Turris’ two goals propelled Phoenix to a 2-1 victory at Jobing.com arena.
Felder’s FRUSTRATED Five:
1. One Goal…. Again - Even though the Preds appeared to break out a little offensively versus Dallas, tonight the one goal ghost returned. As discussed in my pre-game, this team needs some scoring punch, and lately it has been lacking. Tonight, there were plenty of chances, but the Preds could not bury the puck.
2. Man Advantage - If you get four consecutive minutes of a man advantage you have to do something with it. We talked about this in the pre-game also, and tonight I felt the game could have easily been tied after the 3rd period had this unit done its job. Granted, they did get a total of 6 shots on goal while a man up in the game, but chances aren’t worth as much as goals. Considering the refs
3. Try and OWN the Neutral Zone - Quite a few times last night the Predators had trouble just getting through the neutral zone. I give some big credit to Phoenix and their system. They made life difficult in the middle and if the Preds wanted to get thru there with ease it would take some solid passing. One player that I felt had a big impact in the neutral zone was Ed Jovanovski. His takeaways created a couple of big chances for Phoenix, one of which they tallied on. All too often we see the Predators struggle in the neutral zone, resorting to dump and chase for instance, and tonight I felt that the team mishandling the puck in the middle ice cost them.
4. David Legwand - He just can’t seem to find consistency. We all thought that maybe he was getting back on track, but tonight was another game where I wish he had put more offensive effort into it. Legwand finished the night with 0 shots on goal, a -1 rating, 1 hit, 1 takeaway, and went 5 of 10 in the faceoff circle.
5. Please Mr. Poile, We Need Offense - We all hope Steve Sullivan will return, but even after that the fact remains that this team needs some offense. I’m begging for a trade. Please, give us a left winger, sniper, or top 6 forward for Christmas. If we aren’t going to use or re-sign Ville Koistinen, at least get a forward in return. There are options out there. Please explore them and add some offensive pop to this team. The defense and goaltending is good enough to win games, but the offense has to give them some help if this team is to make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year.
Other Notes:
• Tonight’s scratches were Scott Nichol and Ville Koistinen.
• 1ST PERIOD
• 9:06 remains. These teams are really playing tentative to start things off. Solid defense and goaltending for both sides. Limited chances, and shots on goal so far. This is looking like the game should be close throughout.
• 4 on 4 GOAL for PHOENIX – 10 seconds remaining. Kyle Turris takes advantage of a Predator turnover and gets a breakaway. He barrels towards the net, give a little back leg kick with head fake, freezes Ellis as he drops to the butterfly, and slips the puck in behind Dan’s leg. Where have we seen that move? Oh yeah, the shootout against St. Louis in which Dan was beat by that same move twice. The big key to this play was the Nashville turnover as they entered the Phoenix zone. Ed Jovanovski takes the puck from Erat along the boards. The puck goes by Legwand at the point, off the boards to the empty neutral zone, and on to Kyle Turris’ stick. That turnover was quite untimely to say the least. Turris from Jovanovski. Phoenix leads 1-0.
• END OF THE 1ST PERIOD – NSH: 0 PHX: 1. Positives – Up until that last moment there was strong defensive play. The Preds are limiting the shots on goal against Ellis. Negatives – Only 6 shots on goal. Ellis got beat by that same move that has vexed him in the shootouts. The whole league is going to have the book on that one soon enough.
• 2ND PERIOD
• 15:44 to go and Ken Klee gets tabbed for a double infraction. Klee gets tabbed for a weak interference call. I guess that evens things out for the phantom Dumont hook. Also, Klee must have said something about someone’s mother because he was also given an unsportsmanlike penalty. Big four minute “man advantage” upcoming.
• 13:22 remains. Shane Doan gets a nice shorthanded chance after the Preds man advantage unit mishandles the puck in the neutral zone. Jovanovski stops a dump in by Ryan Suter and the puck bounces off to Doan’s stick. Doan breaks in, takes an angle to the right, lets off a shot, but Dan Ellis is up to the task and makes the shorthanded save.
• 11:44 to go. Coyotes kill off the weak Predators man advantage. To go a full four minutes and get no goal is pretty disheartening.
• GOAL for NASHVILLE – 10:03 to go. The power of the former Peterson mini-stache’ shines through as Vern Fiddler tallies. Fids let off a rebound backhander from nine feet out, beating Bryzgalov low glove side, for his 4th goal of the season. Some recognition should be given to Rich Peverley for putting the puck low and on net from the faceoff dot to Bryzgalov’s right. Fiddler from Peverley and Weber. The game is now tied at 1 all.
• END OF THE 2ND PERIOD – NSH: 1 PHX: 1. Positives – Preds even things up. 14 shots on goal that period. Negatives – That wasted four minute man advantage may haunt this team later.
• 3RD PERIOD
• GOAL for PHOENIX – 9:58 remains. The young Yote Kyle Turris nets another one. Lisin had a couple of chances and then Turris pushes the rebound chance in under the right leg pad of an overturned Dan Ellis. Turris from Enver Lisin and Zbynik Michalek. Phoenix leads 2-1.
• The Predators have not given up in this one. There have been plenty of chances and shots, but the puck just won’t seem to get past Bryzgalov.
• 1:10 to go and Dan Ellis heads to the bench to give the Preds an extra attacker.
• 58 seconds remain and the Predators use their timeout to try and game plan a late goal. On the one hand I understand the need for a timeout, but the Coyotes just took an icing call and by calling a timeout here you give them a chance to catch their breath rather than take advantage of the icing call.
• The extra man effort fails and the Coyotes get the 2 points, surpassing Nashville in the standings.
• FINAL SCORE – NSH - 1 PHX - 2.
My Three Stars:
1. Kyle Turris – 2 goals, a +1 rating, 5 shots on goal, and 1 hit.
2. Ilya Bryzgalov – 30 saves on 31 shots.
3. Ed Jovanovski – 1 assist, 2 shots on goal, 2 hits, 1 takeaway, 1 blocked shot.
Goalie Grade:B+ – The starting goaltender tonight was Dan Ellis. Dan got beat on the behind the legs goal again for the 1st goal against. The 2nd goal by Turris was just him never giving up on the play and the Preds D failing to clear him out of the crease. Ellis had just made a couple of nice saves on Lisin and credit must go to Turris for finding the small space under the leg pads.
Ref Review:B+ – The crew tonight was Bill McCreary, Ian Walsh, Vaughan Rody, and Tim Nowak. The let the guys play. I can’t complain too much with that if you take the fact that they swallowed their whistles most of the time into the equation.
Final Thoughts:
Same story, different game. Only one goal for, a strong defensive effort, mostly solid goaltending, but no winning results. I give credit to the youth of the Coyotes in this game. They matched the Preds speed and work ethic and then gave a little more. An even more impressive defensive effort from Phoenix. The Preds need a team that is struggling to help them break out offensively. Well, that leads me to….
The Predators next game will be this Saturday night against the New York Islanders. Are unfamiliar Eastern Conference foe is currently sitting at 14th place in the East, tied in points with the woeful Tampa Bay Lightning. What better way to cure the offensive ailments than against the team that has given up the most goals? The game will be at the Sommet Center in Nashville, normal start time of 7 pm CST. Also, if you are unable to attend you will be able to hear Crispy and Bubba (as Mr. Crisp likes to say) on your TV set if you tune into FS TN. Should be a fun night in Nashville, if the Islanders play according to the script that is…
Till next time, take care.
Don’t forget to tune into the Nashville Hockeybuzz Radio show, Monday nights from 6 to 7 pm on WNSR 560 A.M. with Paul McCann and myself discussing all things Preds! Listen in at the WNSR Website for the best new Preds radio show around! The podcasting for the Nashville Hockeybuzz Radio show can be found at the following: Nashville Hockeybuzz Radio Podcast. Enjoy!
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