Penguins beat Predators in overtime, Nashville's 3rd straight OT loss
by Dirk Hoag on Oct 21, 2010 11:14 PM EDT
in Nashville Predators Game Recaps
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PrintThe Nashville Predators dropped their third straight overtime decision, tonight to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Three times, the Preds took a one-goal lead, but the Pens came back each time to force the extra session. In the end, a Kris Letang slap shot through traffic in front of Pekka Rinne was the game winner.
On the bright side, the Predators remain the NHL's only undefeated team in regulation play, bringing them to 9 points in 6 games, a great pace even before you consider all of their injury concerns.
Follow after the jump for reaction, advanced stats, and the video highlights...
The St. Louis Blues come to town next Thursday to take on the Preds. Use this special offer for OtF readers to save money on Nashville Predators tickets for this, or any other home game.
- One thing I was worried about heading into this one is how the Preds would handle Crosby & Malkin if they were out on the ice together, without having the Suter/Weber tandem to counter them. Sure enough, those two created a few dangerous shifts, as well as the goal which forced overtime.
- I wonder if playing on a line with David Legwand and Joel Ward, against elite opposition, has forced Jordin Tootoo to play with more focus and discipline. He's looked good out there recently.
- A sellout crowd of 17,113 at the Bridge on a Thursday night in October? I wonder what Ross McKeon will say...
- Even though the Preds' power play scored once out of four opportunities, they really had trouble during most of their 7:16 of play, firing only 3 shots on net. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, had 12 PP shots during 10:00.
- J.P. Dumont led Nashville with 5 shots, and had a shot deflect over Marc-Andre Fleury and almost roll into the net, which would have likely clinched the game.
- Shane O'Brien is rapidly earning over Preds fans with his feisty (but so far disciplined) attitude, and willingness to stick up for his teammates.
- Alexander Sulzer put in a quietly effective effort in his first game of the season.
- The Hornqvist goal (check out the video below) may be the prettiest one of the season so far, right?
As for the advanced stats...
| Even Strength | Individual Totals | Team Totals While Player Is On Ice | ||||||||||
| Player | Pos | EV TOI | Shots | Shts Blkd | Missed Shts | Blocks | SOG For | SOG Ag | SOG +/- | Tot SF | Tot SA | Corsi |
| David Legwand | C | 16:41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 5 | 15 | -10 |
| Joel Ward | R | 15:22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 5 | 14 | -9 |
| Steve Sullivan | L | 13:26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 10 | 9 | +1 |
| Cal O'Reilly | C | 12:59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
| Jordin Tootoo | R | 12:36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 4 | 13 | -9 |
| Patric Hornqvist | R | 11:04 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 7 | 10 | -3 |
| Jerred Smithson | R | 10:00 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 | 10 | -6 |
| Martin Erat | R | 9:08 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| J-P Dumont | R | 9:06 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 9 | 7 | +2 |
| Nick Spaling | C | 8:46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| Colin Wilson | C | 7:45 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | 6 | +3 |
| Sergei Kostitsyn | L | 6:50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
| Francis Bouillon | D | 17:09 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 8 | 16 | -8 |
| Shea Weber | D | 16:24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 7 | 19 | -12 |
| Shane O'Brien | D | 16:20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 8 | 15 | -7 |
| Kevin Klein | D | 16:16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 5 | 17 | -12 |
| Cody Franson | D | 14:44 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 17 | 9 | +8 |
| Alexander Sulzer | D | 12:24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 13 | 6 | +7 |
This was a classic case of Pittsburgh's stars outshining Nashville's, but the depth Predators got the job done against the Penguin role players. I think we're going to see these types of numbers fairly often this season, as that's the kind of team the Predators have - their first line may get outgunned, but they make up for that further down the depth chart.
Missing Ryan Suter, of course, likely played a major role here as well.
And now, your video highlights (might have to wait a bit post-game for the video to work):
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No respect....
I’ll admit that I was only half paying attention, but FOXSS is showing hockey highlights, and I’m almost positive that they showed three goals: all Pens. Then, when they started in on the Leafs-Rangers highlights, they proclaimed the Leafs to be “one of two teams without a regulation loss,” but they didn’t say that we’re the other one.
Not that I’d really expect anything different.
Stouthearted team
My choices for Predator of the Game would include Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Francis Bouillon and all those who stood tall and did not back down tonight. I’m sure the highlights will concentrate on Crosby and Malkin—as they invariably do—but after a great evening at Bridgestone Arena, I am very proud of the Nashville Predators.
by Hockey Hillbilly on Oct 21, 2010 11:53 PM EDT reply actions
Pekka
Not Pekka’s finest performance. A lot of big rebounds tonight. Malkin’s goal he couldn’t squeeze the initial shot. Crosby’s 1st was just weak, and I’m sure Pekka would say the same. Crosby’s 2nd was a result of a massive rebound off a Malkin shot. The last goal no one could have saved.
We did not succeed in shutting Crosby and Malkin down whatsoever. I feel we have had success with that in the past, but maybe I’m wrong.
I thought we were pretty good otherwise. Especially considering Suter was out.
I do know we are not good at 4 on 4 and I hope to see less OT games in the future. I’d much rather we shut down these super skilled teams in the 3rd, when we have the lead, and not allow those wizards to have all that open ice in OT.
gripes
what the heck happened to the preds in OT? they came out flatter than i think i have ever seen them before.
why was the one linesman constantly getting in the way of breakouts? at least he did it to both teams.
Im just sick and tired of the “superstars” getting away with murder. 1st the boarding by backstrom on goc with no call. then tonight malkin boards/charges/roughes (he qualified for any one of those) tootoo, then when Klien picks on him for it he folds like a napkin in origami school, another pen comes in swinging at Klien, and the penguins get a powerplay for malkin’s cheap shot on tootoo.
"It's gonna be fun on the bun."
Yes, OT was awful. It was like our D men forgot Malkin was there and kept making these lazy passes that kept getting picked off by him. It is Malkin guys! Maybe they were tired because of the 3rd OT game in a row. At least all our guys finished this game and we didn’t have to play a man down.
d-men
when are we going to use our younger d-men that are in Milwaukee?? Some might be better than the ones we have right now!!!! Come on lets give them a chance to show us why they were drafted by the Preds.
Almost forgot
For the love of God, can we please score a BREAKAWAY goal?!
On the edge
From what I can see we are right there. We are now starting to play with the big boys, instead of standing around and watching them skate we are right there. The boys looked a bit tired at the end of the 3rd into overtime. But you can’t complain to much at this point about results, we are the only team with points in every game and we are the last team without an regulation loss. I know we hate the word Red Wings, but this happened to them last year and look how well they finished the season. Keep the faith and keep cheering! GO PREDS!!
by predsfansince97 on Oct 22, 2010 8:22 AM EDT reply actions
Conditioning
Let me start by saying I think the Preds played admirably considering injuries and the opponent. What I’ve noticed is that we come out hot at the beginning of periods but usually get equalized towards the end of them. I’m sure injuries have something to do with it, but I’m wondering whether the problem with not finishing games is due to a lack of conditioning.
Not in this game. It had more to do with TOI. Weber and Bouillon each clocked more than 24 minutes chasing the likes of Crosby and Malkin. It took its toll.
by Hockey Hillbilly on Oct 22, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Last team without a regulation loss? Points in every game? Guys shuffled all over the place because of injuries?
We are holding our own and starting to stick up for one another more often (Kliener!!). I think the upcoming road trips will further bond this team and they are going to be dangerous when healthy.
The guys were completely gassed in the OT...
Ward and Leggy could barely skate or even pass with any kind of muster. So many injuries and so many games packed in a very short time frame, surely has alot to do with what we saw late in the game last night.
I am encouraged overall, but also slightly disturbed that we aren’t finishing great chances. How many times have we had a breakaway in the past 3 games that we shoot the puck right into the goalie’s breadbasket or completely whiffed on an open net? Not much chance of scoring that way.
Also, who else thinks Weber is playing with some undisclosed injury? Something seems off kilter…very few point shots, a few hits but not many and he seems to be a step behind in his skating. Maybe the skating is fatigue, but the other is somewhat troubling to me.
by TitanPredBearFan on Oct 22, 2010 9:43 AM EDT reply actions
Ward, Leggy, Tootoo, Weber, and Klein all had the worst corsi rating. The 1st four were out there with Malkin and Crosby, who looked unstoppable last night. Maybe that had something to do with the fatigue issue late.
Weber has been physical, but you are right about the lack of bombs. I don’t know if teams are just keying in on that and shutting it down. That use to be one of the only ways we scored. Maybe now that we are scoring a few more goals, it will start to open up again. I don’t think he is hurt though. He is playing too physical to be hurt, I think.
I'm very pleased.....
I’m very pleased with the start. 9 out of 12 points is always better than 0 out of 12 points. We had the Michael Jordans (Ovechkin/Crosby) of the NHL in here on Saturday and last night. The Preds battled to an OT loss in both games. I’ll take it and on to kicking the Stars out of Dallas. GO PREDATORS!!
Dirk, Chris, Seth, whoever else…I"ve asked this on other boards. Maybe one of you can give me an educated answer.
Somehow I have missed the point of OT. My understanding is that we are assured of a point the minute the game clock strikes zeros at the end of regulation with a tie score. My question is assuming that is correct, why not go for the win in the OT (especially last night when you are playing a team with 2 of the top 5 skilled players in the world). Sorry but we aren’t winning a shootout against them. Who cares if you lose the game like we did last night or if we lose the game on a 3 on 1 breakaway because we were pushing the puck deep offensively? Either way we still only get 1 point.
My whole point is I sat in the stands prior to the OT starting last night and Tuesday night (missed the Caps game) knowing that our leading GOAL scorer wasn’t going to see the ice. It is just stupid IMO. I love Trotz, but I hate that we ever have the last change. He is so darn consumed with matchups. Legs, Ward, Toots, Weber, and Cube got this team to OT. Who cares at that point whether they are on the ice against Baby crosby or Dirty Malkin? Put goal scorers on the ice. Horny is a goal scorer.
As for the exhaustion/conditioning factor, this team going on the road is the best thing possible. Trotz can’t sit back and wait to see who the other coach is sending out. It drives me nuts. As good as Spaling and Smithson are defensively why couldn’t they have taken one shift a period against 87/71 to maybe save 22/11/29’s legs for the 3rd? Can’t happen because Trotz is so consumed with matchups.
I’m thrilled that we got 9 pts out of a possible 12. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Sullivan is our leading goal scorer at the moment, but I get your point.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Hornqvist gets much OT time because he is not a puck possession player. If Goc was still around, I could see a Goc – Hornqvist or even Lombardi – Hornqvist pairing, but with our current roster it limits the options.
Sullivan paired with O’Reilly and I think you’d probably see Wilson with Dumont or Erat to go along with Legwand and Ward, but then it comes down to the fourth line where Trotz would either go with a defensive pairing (Spaling – Smithson) or a two-way pairing (Spaling – Kostitsyn).
Again, I see your point, but with only 5 minutes in OT, your not likely to see that many players get the ice.
FWIW, Sully was on the post-game show and flat out said that the entire locker room was upset about how the team sat back in the third and OT. I don’t think it’s a strategy being preached, just something that’s naturally occuring and something they know needs to change…
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by Seth Lake on Oct 23, 2010 12:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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