Predators drop 2-1 decision in sloppy game at Colorado

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 23, 2010 12:30 AM EST

Facing a 2-1 deficit late in the 3rd period, Ryan Suter wound up from the point and blasted the tying goal past Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson.

But the referees decided to take it away, making a goaltender interference call on Patric Hornqvist that didn't just erase Suter's goal, but gave Colorado a power play to disrupt Nashville's momentum at the time. The Predators couldn't connect on another tying goal, and ended up going home with their third consecutive defeat.

Follow after the jump for video highlights and reaction...

Last night in Phoenix was one of "those games" that happens every season, in which one team out-shoots the other 2-to-1 but comes up short on the scoreboard. This was another one of "those games", but an entirely different sort; the kind where unpredictable officiating disrupted the flow of the contest to the point where it became nearly unwatchable. After not taking a single penalty against the Coyotes, the Preds took 10 calls resulting in 9 Colorado power plays. The constant special teams work prevented the typical rollover of various lines, reminiscent of the early days after the Great Lockout, when NHL teams struggled to adjust to new officiating standards.

It should be noted that the mind-boggling calls weren't one-sided, and that the Predators put themselves in a hole by missing offensive opportunities (like out-shooting Colorado in the 1st period 12-4) and committing ghastly defensive-zone turnovers. A combination of good-enough penalty killing, along with one fine play with the man advantage that led to a Cody Franson goal, helped keep the game close heading into the 3rd period.

Once there, Nashville started mounting pressure on a consistent basis, and even after the Hornqvist goalie interference call, he came back and hit a goalpost during a last-minute scramble in the Avalanche zone. That wasn't enough, however, and the Preds will now have to wait until February 4th to get another crack at beating the Avs, that time in Nashville.

Hopefully a trip to Columbus on Tuesday can help them get things back on the right track in the meantime.

The Preds return home Saturday, January 30 vs. the Atlanta Thrashers. For discounted tickets to this or any other Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

No advanced even-strength stats for tonight, I'll see if I can provide them tomorrow.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Once again, thanks for putting up with the MHH invasion tonight. It was kind of a last-minute idea on my part, and I feel that it would have worked better had we given you guys more notice. Hopefully we weren’t too overwhelming/annoying. (And for the record, I agree. You got robbed on the no-goal.)

Forever grateful that Joe Sakic isn't a douche bag like Brett Favre.

by Rather Dashing on Jan 23, 2010 12:39 AM EST reply actions

The invasion was fun, we enjoyed it

Don’t be strangers… just strange.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 23, 2010 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

I read the game thread after the fact...

….and you guys were fun. If Chicago tries to come play with us, we’ll have to find a way to block them, but I agree; you’re welcome to join us anytime. Kind of like the ribbing with a fan from the other team sitting next to you at a game.

by LuvthePreds on Jan 23, 2010 12:45 AM EST up reply actions

Lets do it again next time.

"Get to the Choppa!"

by PredHead on Jan 23, 2010 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

Google "NHL Officials"

…and you’ll find their website, where you can tell them what you think about the officiating tonight. I did.

by LuvthePreds on Jan 23, 2010 12:43 AM EST reply actions

well

This game sucked. Big time.

Since we’ve dropped six straight points, this next stretch is huuuuuge. BJs, Wings, Thrashers, Yotes, Avs, and Sharks. Need to get 7 out of 10 points, at least.

Went back and watched the Sully fight. Not sure why he felt like he needed to get in there. Weber had just launched Wolski about a mile out of the crease (seriously, it was hilarious).

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.
Follow me on Twitter

by Chris Burton on Jan 23, 2010 10:01 AM EST reply actions

terrible

terrible in our play at times. worst ref’d game ive seen in a while just in sheer number of calls. that WAS a goal. and sully i think was still reacting to the stab a peks by wolski. we need to get our ship righted. another week like this and we could go into the olympic break outside the top 8.

by predswilrule on Jan 23, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions

Ha!

NHL Network is rebroadcasting this game today. Figures that of all the Preds’ games this season, they decide to replay THIS debacle. You couldn’t pay me enough to watch that again.

"Get to the Choppa!"

by PredHead on Jan 23, 2010 1:38 PM EST reply actions

Everyone gets to see the bad NO GOAL call and the terrible decision to call goalie interference. It just might showcase some of the problems with the refs deciding the outcome of the game. The preds should have come out with at least 1 point in the game.

by EXPECTATIONS on Jan 24, 2010 12:53 AM EST reply actions

Little Late

Little late to this discussion… but we’ve all been there for these games. Its one of those games that you watch, you KNOW that you’re taking it to the other team for stretches at a time…. only to watch them come down and score on the only chance they get.

Take solace in the fact that the Preds were the better team. It doesn’t help in the standings… but it helps the sanity.

At least that’s what helps me sleep at night…

View From My Seats
Sarcasm: God's gift to smart people...

by Matt Reitz on Jan 24, 2010 6:10 AM EST reply actions

Hoping to see them in the Playoffs...sorry I'll miss the last game in Nashville

So I recently (1/4/10) moved from Nashville to Denver and got tickets for this game a week ago for cheap…thanks to some, in my opinion, sorry-fair weathered-Avs fans that saw this game as no big deal. As a Preds fan I was amazed to read how the Avs despite there position atop the Northwest, only average about 7,000 fans/game. And there was maybe that many there. It was funny to see what would be approximately section 303 in Nashville almost completely empty. I was texting my buddy back in Nashville how quiet the arena was. Now forgive my rant here, and yes, me seeing 1 arena outside of Nashville does not qualify me as an expert, BUT…after hearing and reading about other areas compared to us, like from the “30-30 guy”, I think Nashville is way up on the “fan love” and support scale of their team. I saw quiet fans, a so-so arena for hockey, a rather boring “show”, and a team that is a lot like us…grinders and opportunistic, that pulled one out of there…thanks to the ref. I agree we should have got a point, but our discipline was terrible. The Preds lost that game. The Avs took nothing good away, except when they needed to win a faceoff, they did, easily and often. The best and worse part of the night was seeing my first Steve Sullivan fight. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The other cool part was, like I mentioned, I was one of only a couple “jersey-wearing” fans that I saw, and THE ONLY one out there during warm ups. So you can imagine how many pucks I got tossed. I’ll say this…there were 4 happy little Avs fans within my tossing distance. I hope so BAD that the Preds “Road To Sir Stanley” goes thru Denver, but with different results this time.

"What motivates me more than money are God and my family."
-José Alberto Pujols

by nashvillecardsfan on Jan 24, 2010 2:14 PM EST reply actions