Despite stellar goalie play from Pekka Rinne, Predators lose 1-0 to Sabres

by Aditya T (smashville) on Oct 10, 2009 10:50 PM EDT

Mike Grier scored the only goal of the game with 3:25 remaining in the third period and Ryan Miller made 25 saves for a shutout as the Nashville Predators lost their first game of the season 1-0 to the Buffalo Sabres.The loss overshadows an outstanding performance by Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, who had 41 saves and made several highlight reel stops throughout the game. Much like the Predators fared at times last year, Pekka Rinne had to keep the team in the game due to a total lack of offensive production.

Final - 10.10.2009	1	2	3	Total
Buffalo Sabres	0	0	1	1
Nashville Predators	0	0	0	0

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Who is your Predator of the Game?

Pekka Rinne

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Pekka Rinne

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The forecheck was awful, the passing was awful, the decision making was awful, etc.

The only thing that was positive about this game was Rinne’s unbelievable play

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Oct 11, 2009 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

I'll give you a few more positives

Joel Ward did a great job up front on the PK, with two blocks and a hand-clear. I haven’t had a chance to run the numbers yet, but Goc’s line at even strength seemed to generate some decent pressure.

Like I said on Twitter, it was great to see Rinne and Ward on the ice, I just can’t wait for Legwand and Erat to start their seasons as well.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 11, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought Lemaire left the Western Conference...

But unfortunately Trotz stole his systems… The Predators have been playing a 1-2-2 Neutral Zone trap since the start of the preseason, applying zero pressure on the puck on the forecheck and following that up with a very passive collapsing defensive zone coverage that just preaches “position, position, position” to the players all game long and leads to so much standing still it is driving me nuts!!!

Honestly, tonight was the most effective the trap has been thus far this season, but when Buffalo is simply winning the races back to the dump-ins and then controlling the puck relentlessly to the perimeter until they find a seam to shoot, then win the race to the loose puck, and repeat…it is maddening!!!

Anyhow…

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Oct 11, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh...

And horrible coverage by MSG. The video quality was horrendous and the commentary was bad. I can’t figure out how they got Hamhose out of Hamhuis.

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Oct 11, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions

the video was amazingly bad

I felt like it was being filmed completely from cell phones

by Great Paperclip on Oct 11, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions

All night long Buffalo was able to chase down the pucks in the neutral zone and put them back into the Preds zone. Their defensemen, who offered them next to nothing on the offensive end, always seemed to be in the right spot to keep the puck in the Preds zone.

It’s hard to come up with many positives for Nashville outside of the amazing play of Pekka and the steady play of the Goc line. Buffalo took it to the Preds right from the start and never really let up. They were the aggressors and the Preds kind of played flat-footed the entire game.

by ky_titans on Oct 11, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

Pekka starts Monday...

Trotz announced that Rinne and Ellis will rotate in and out this week with Rinne starting Monday against Edmonton and Ellis following with the start Wednesday at Dallas before Rinne gets another home game Thursday against Chicago and Ellis gets the challenge of Ovechkin and Co. in Washington on Saturday…

http://blogs.tennessean.com/predators/2009/10/11/rinne-ellis-to-split-next-four-games/

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...

by Seth Lake on Oct 11, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions