Predators get torched in Detroit on "Devil's Night", lose 5-2

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 31, 2010 10:59 AM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Recaps

As if skating without two regular centers and a top-pair defenseman weren't difficult enough, the Nashville Predators went into last night's game in Detroit without Jordin Tootoo and Francis Bouillon as well, due to a dreaded and unspecified "upper body injury". Against a talented, deep team like the Red Wings, the Preds just couldn't keep the pace and dropped a 5-2 decision on Devil's Night. Apparently this year instead of torching abandoned houses, Detroit celebrated by lighting the lamp over and over again.

At 5-2-3, the Predators can still be satisfied their results from the first 10 games of the season, especially given the challenges they're facing on the injury front. Still, losing a lopsided game to a division rival always stings.

Follow after the jump for the video highlights, reaction, and your advanced even-strength statistics...

First, the video highlights...

The roster decisions heading into this game certainly evoke some head-scratching. If Francis Bouillon was known to have an issue (he missed a few shifts Thursday after getting dinged), then why wasn't a defenseman recalled from Milwaukee? Skating with 5 D against Detroit is just asking for trouble.
Wade Belak dressed, presumably as the 6th defenseman, but he didn't skate a single shift all night.
I know folks were excited to see Linus Klasen play, but remember that since he was injured in that first rookie scrimmage in Florida, Barry Trotz hasn't had the chance to see him in game-action very much. It'll take time before he's comfortable skating him 10+ minutes.
Speaking of not skating 10+ minutes, Colin Wilson got just 9:48. I suspect the Preds are being patient with his development, but given the circumstances, it might make sense to at least get him some more PP time (just 44 seconds last night).
It seemed like J.P. Dumont had some jump to his game, which was sorely needed. He led Nashville forwards with 4 shots.
Martin Erat played for 15:53 and had one shot. Where does the criticism go here? If he's healthy, we can say he's failing utterly as an offensive leader on this team. If he's hurt, we have to question why he's out there at all.
Alexander Sulzer led all skaters with 28:18 of ice time, including almost 6 minutes of power play work.
That power play is sputtering, going 0-for-5 and putting just 5 shots on net in 10 minutes. The Preds are on an 0-for-12 streak dating back to the October 21 game vs. Pittsburgh. Things aren't totally bleak, however, as Joel Ward's goal was essentially a PP one - Detroit's Doug Janik was just out of the box for one second when he scored.
With a few days off before skating Wednesday night in Phoenix, we'll have to keep a close eye on who practices Monday & Tuesday. Missing 5 regular players is now way to head out on a West Coast roadie!

And for your advanced even-strength 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	12:57	1	1	0	0	6	7	-1	9	11	-2
J-P Dumont	R	11:29	2	1	0	0	7	5	2	9	11	-2
Nick Spaling	C	11:22	1	0	0	0	8	11	-3	10	15	-5
Patric Hornqvist	R	11:21	2	2	2	1	4	3	1	11	6	5
Cal O'Reilly	C	11:11	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	11	8	3
Martin Erat	R	11:09	1	0	0	0	5	8	-3	9	13	-4
Joel Ward	R	10:34	2	1	1	1	9	7	2	16	10	6
Sergei Kostitsyn	L	9:43	0	0	0	0	2	3	-1	5	7	-2
Steve Sullivan	L	9:33	1	1	0	0	6	8	-2	13	9	4
Jerred Smithson	R	9:32	2	0	1	0	2	4	-2	5	7	-2
Colin Wilson	C	9:04	1	1	1	0	7	5	2	12	8	4
Linus Klasen	L	5:38	0	0	0	1	1	2	-1	1	6	-5
Wade Belak	R	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alexander Sulzer	D	18:20	2	1	0	1	10	12	-2	20	19	1
Shane O'Brien	D	16:56	0	0	0	0	6	7	-1	13	13	0
Kevin Klein	D	16:30	1	0	1	3	9	8	1	16	14	2
Shea Weber	D	16:04	3	1	2	1	9	7	2	15	13	2
Cody Franson	D	14:32	1	0	0	0	6	10	-4	10	15	-5

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Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Joel Ward, goal, +1 rating

20 votes

Kevin Klein, goal, +2 rating, 4 blocked shots

83 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Detroit perspective

Klein and Dumont were definitely the best skaters out there for Nashville. Weber did a great job creating that second goal for them, but Klein was much more noticeable. Dumont created a few decent scoring opportunities for himself and seemed to have an extra step on the rest of Nashville’s skaters.

by J.J. from Kansas on Oct 31, 2010 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

I really liked Ward and Wilson together. They had several chances. With Erat playing badly or hurt, I just don’t understand why Wilson isn’t getting more ice time. His corsi is usually good and he creates chances. I thought Ward had a great game. His net presence was great, and he had a chance at a hat trick if a couple bounces had gone his way.

I don’t really understand the Klasen call up. If they knew he was going to play for Tootoo against Detroit, why not call up Thurreson, Halischuk or Begin? At least they have NHL experience and can put in good minutes in a grinder role. You know for a fact Klasen isn’t going to play much, then why use him at all in that role? That’s not his game. He needs to be out there with players that create chances, not 4th line grinders. He is worthless to the team and in fact hurts us in that role.

by 29thWard on Oct 31, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

I am not understanding Klasen’s call up or Trotz’s line assignments. I mean why call up Klasen if you are not going to put him in the best place for him to cause havoc. I think there were others that we could have called up that would have helped. Now don’t get me wrong I am totally glad Klasen is here, but just do not understand the decision. I also don’t get dressing Belak as a defenseman and then he doesn’t play??

Can someone enlighten me as to what is wrong with Erat? He seems completely worthless out there. I know it will not happen but its time to scratch him. I mean one shot?

We have mass injuries, weird line combinations, the PP seems dead again. Do I just need to back away from the edge? : )

by ablairnash on Oct 31, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Back away from the edge…. slowly… slowly…

by cisar on Oct 31, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

wilson

i don’t understand the drop in TOI over the last two games. before them he had 5 points in the first 8 games. Maybe he could play on the erat-sully-hornqvist pp line that has nobody on it who has played even a little at center.

"It's gonna be fun on the bun."

by flyalder on Oct 31, 2010 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

We can all scratch our heads until our hair falls out, but the bottom line is that Trotz is a my way or the highway coach. He stifles promising offensive talent and punishes it with reduced ice time if it doesn’t conform, regardless of the detriment to the team. In his mind there is a method to his madness that unfortunately none of the rest of us can comprehend. In the early days of the franchise one could understand the desire to shorten games in order to be competitive. However, the talent level has risen considerably since the lockout, yet it’s the same old song and dance. Lousy power play, no presence in front of the net, too much dicking around with the puck in the offensive zone, leading to too many shots from the perimeter, a new #1 goalie every 2-3 years—need I go on? Trotz and Poile are joined at the hip, and until one or both is/are gone, we can expect more of the same.

by shoot the puck on Oct 31, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Agree

Trotz is a defensive minded coach, a great coach for an expansion team with minimal talent and needs structure to be competitive. Now, the team clearly benefits from structure, with 5 on 5 play being one of the league’s best, but we stifle young creative talent. Hartnell, Radulov, Wilson, their development got stunted by Trotz. You can’t get develop if you don’t see the ice, or contribute offence if you only play ~6-10 minutes a game with grinders.

I get the feeling that this is a Dungy in Tampa sort of thing. Good enough to coach a young team to a certain level, but there is a ceiling.

13 points in 10 games, though, with Pitts, Detroit, Wash, and Chicago on the schedule,
none too shabby.

by DontfeedtheBelak on Oct 31, 2010 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t freak out on Trotz or Poile. I use to all the time, but they really have little money to work with. These players do need to realize they need to be better two way forwards if they want to succeed in the new NHL. Look at Datsyuk and Zetterberg and most of the wings. Radulov went back to Russia cause he didn’t want to do that and because he got paid. Perhaps Wilson will get more ice time once he is back on the wing. I don’t know the numbers, but every time I happen to pay attention he seems to be losing a face off. That may be weighing on Trotz’s mind.

We scored 11 goals in the 1st 3 games and have scored 12 in the last 7. I think it boils down to injuries, cause we looked great before the injuries started to get us. We are missing Lombardi, Goc, and Suter long term. I think it is safe to say Erat is not 100% and Kostitsyn has a broken toe. Cube and Toots missed last night. I think I also heard Crispy and Weber say the flu is going around the team.

13 points in 10 games with all those injuries and against what had to be one of the hardest starting schedules is pretty good.

by 29thWard on Oct 31, 2010 8:01 PM EDT reply actions