Preds clinch playoff spot with 4-3 overtime win in Detroit

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 3, 2010 4:59 PM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Recaps

Ryan Suter capped off a high-paced, tight game with the Red Wings this afternoon by scoring 16 seconds in overtime, lifting the Nashville Predators to 98 points on the season and clinching their return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Preds held a late 3-2 lead, but Pavel Datsyuk scored with just 37 seconds left to force the extra session.

Follow after the jump for reaction, and check the video widget on the right-hand sidebar for highlights as soon as they become available...

Bullet points appear to be working, so let's stick with that format:

You have to admire the Preds' pluck in responding well to the late goal by Detroit, but with the playoffs right around the corner, I think we'd all like to see them lock things down tighter in the final minutes. The Red Wings outshot the Preds 14-6 in the third.
Jerred Smithson had a gritty game, working well to get the puck out of the defensive zone and playing especially well on the PK.
Dustin Boyd looks better and better with each passing game, setting up a big goal for J.P. Dumont in the 2nd period which gave Nashville a 3-2 lead, and pulling off a move in the 3rd that beat Jimmy Howard in the Detroit net, only to have the puck bounce off the far post and out.
Going back to that 3rd Preds goal, Dumont did both the physical work to help force the puck deep, and supplied the skill as well by being ready for Boyd's pass, roofing a nice wrist shot on the one-timer.
Pekka Rinne stood strong as Detroit constantly drove traffic to the net. He'll have to get used to congestion like that in the playoffs.
Overall, the Predators looked good playing an up-and-down style with the Red Wings, making some savvy plays in the neutral zone that disrupted the Red Wings' attack.
Only three Predators didn't have a shot on goal today - Steve Sullivan, Dan Hamhuis, and Colin Wilson.

Overall, it wasn't a perfect game for the Preds, but it was a darned good one. The Preds can now rest up a bit before heading to Phoenix on Wednesday, and hope that Jason Arnott is ready for action by then.

Head over and check out our offer for discounted Nashville Predators tickets.

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Dustin Boyd, 1 assist

21 votes

Pekka Rinne, 28 saves

27 votes

Ryan Suter, GW goal & 1 assist

99 votes

147 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

gift horse

dont want to look one in the mouth, but sure wish we had not given up the lead for that 50+ seconds. i have this terrible feeling that 1 point costs us a seed spot and thus a much harder opponent. great way to answer though.

by predswilrule on Apr 3, 2010 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

Wow...

Preds make the playoffs for the 5th time, and snap the Wings’ 7 game win streak, and get our most road wins ever, and Trotz coaches his 900th….. yeah, that was a huge win

by hockeydekefreak on Apr 3, 2010 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

pete n terry

interesting note from the guys in the booth – I think I heard them discuss the power play opportunities the wings have had in their own building compared to outside their own building – quite interesting considering erat was called for a NON hook, i also thought the weber penalty was little lame.

by EXPECTATIONS on Apr 3, 2010 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

1st star on nhl.com

No love for preds. Holstrom got 1st star of the game

by EXPECTATIONS on Apr 3, 2010 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

what the hell

we won the game

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

In the East,

we would be winning any division other than the one the Caps are winning. I can dream.

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

Go East?

What’s that like? Since we have the unbalanced schedule, I know nothing about the hockey in the East. It might as well be the KHL for all I know about it. I know Pittsburgh’s pretty good, and Washington has some Russian guy who’s supposed to be all right, but would we be better off over there? :-)

by WestSideDrew on Apr 3, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

You’d def be on top of the Northeast. Atlantic and Southeast are doubtful, you’ve got Pitt and NJ in Atlantic, and Washington in Southeast

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Apr 3, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Preds and the Penguinss are very similar to each other, last I looked we looked almost exactly the same in points and W-L-OTL.

by hockeydekefreak on Apr 3, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually 1 more point than Pittsburgh, and 2 more than the Sabres

by Kevin Sellathamby on Apr 3, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Man. More points than Sid and Geno-led SC champs? Dig it.

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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Cheering for the Sharks tomorrow...

so we don’t have to play them in the first round! A Sharks win secures the Preds spot #7 at least.

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nhl/predatorsclinch.html

by DonBorvio on Apr 3, 2010 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

That's a cool site

and welcome to OtF!

Hope you stick around!

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh I'll be around...

I’ve been lurking for a while. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 2 seasons now; it’ll be great to see my first playoff game! I just moved down here two years ago from Mini-soda. Oh ya you betcha. ;)

by DonBorvio on Apr 3, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Right on!

According to sportsclubstats.com, there is only a 0.25% chance that the Preds finish 8th. On the other hand, we have a 2.6% chance of finishing 4th!

by WestSideDrew on Apr 3, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

We have as much of a chance of finishing 4th as we have of finishing 6th

2 points away from each, with 2 more games played. If Phoenix loses 2 games, including ours on Wednesday (SJS or LAK would be my guess), and we win both of our games, we get 4th!

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

So we really need to cheer for Edmonton tonight against PHX

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd rather drop to six....

and avoid the Red Wings in the first round.

no wings and no sharks please. Not afraid of them, I just think they are the toughest match-ups. Let’s get one monkey off our back at a time

by brotherau on Apr 3, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I agree with you

but it would be really cool to have home ice advantage in the first round.

And welcome to the site!

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

agree

I like a match-up with Vancouver over any of the other teams with home ice advantage.

by VApreds on Apr 3, 2010 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Problem is...

Detoilet is probably going to leap frog us. They have 4 games left, we have 2. They play the Flyers, CBJ x 2 and the ‘hawks. They might lose to the ’hawks but probably not the other 3 games. As much as I’d like to see them fall apart now!

by DonBorvio on Apr 3, 2010 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

As long as we win both our games, all they have to do is lose once

We need to be big Flyers fans tomorrow!

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 3, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Osgood plays tomorrow; we’re fine.

Gotta. Win. Out.

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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree w/ expectations. erat wasnt even close to a hook and the weber call was weaker than weak. yet hornqvist gets crosschecked across the ice into a ref and no call. sounds waaaay too familiar. at least they didnt impact the game directly

by predswilrule on Apr 3, 2010 6:20 PM EDT reply actions