Beck, Geoffrion shine in rookie Predators' 5-0 beatdown of Panthers

by Chris Burton on Sep 15, 2010 9:41 PM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Recaps

The quality of the Nashville Predators' prospects were on full display this evening in South Florida, as the Nashville rookies coasted to a 5-0 win over the youngsters from the Florida Panthers. Taylor Beck scored twice, while Blake Geoffrion had a goal and two assists.

Chet Pickard started the game in goal for the Predators and made 16 saves, while Anders Lindback played the last 30 minutes, finishing off the shutout.

Ryan Ellis started the game with a goal from around 30 feet at 1:17 of the first period which was unassisted. Beck scored a few minutes later (from Geoffrion and Ellis), and the rout was on.

In addition to Beck, Ellis, and Geoffrion; Michael Latta scored in the 2nd period by redirecting a shot from defenseman Charles Olivier-Roussel. After Nashville's first goal, Ryan Flynn dropped the gloves with a Panthers prospect. Linus Klasen was drilled in the slot late in the game, resulting in some blood on the ice. He appeared to be okay, though, and soldiered on. Here's video of the hit, thanks to Seth in the comments below for providing the link:

Apparently there was a bonus shootout after the game, which the Predators also won. Austin Watson and Mark Santorelli scored.

It was an impressive display for Nashville, but not an overly surprising one. The team the Predators fielded tonight was older, stronger, and more experienced than Florida's. Many of the players who suited up are part of a farm system that is regarded by Hockey's Future as the number one in the NHL. Check back tomorrow afternoon for a report on the second game between Nashville and Florida's rookies.

Notes:

Jonathan Blum, Ryan Thang, and Mark Santorelli were tonight's alternate captains.
Most of the production came from the same 2009 draft - Ellis, Beck, Roussel, and Latta all registered points.
Anders Lindback starts in goal tomorrow.

Many thanks to Miami Herald blogger George Richards and SB Nation's Cats blogger Donny Rivette for providing live updates of tonight's game.

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Woo-hoo!

by kek_in_tn on Sep 15, 2010 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Klasen Update

Richards reporting Klasen getting stitches in his chin and tongue. Will not be heading to ER tonight…

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by Seth Lake on Sep 15, 2010 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

Update from Richards

Here’s the article containing his update on Klasen:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/2010/09/nashvilles-linus-klasen-ok.html

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by Seth Lake on Sep 15, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be interesting to see what happened. My concern with Klasen is that if he tries to pull those fancy YouTube moves too often here in North America, he’ll get his clock cleaned.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 15, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I agree. One report from a fan at HFBoards said that he was weaving his way through traffic when Clackson caught him with his head down.

Hope he’s alright, but also that he has learned a very painful lesson…

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by Seth Lake on Sep 15, 2010 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

As expected, Klasen is being listed with an upper body injury by the Predators and will be held out of tomorrow’s contest as a precaution…

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by Seth Lake on Sep 15, 2010 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting; too bad. Hopefully he’s better by Saturday.

But yeah, that won’t fly against Brent Seabrook or Mike Commodore. They’ll be scraping him off the ice.

by Chris Burton on Sep 15, 2010 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, if you notice in most of those highlights, he spreads his legs wide and almost skates back on his heels to make quick cuts. He leaves himself incredibly vulnerable doing that, without the ability to react to an opponent or cushion himself from a big hit.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 15, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Video of the head shot on Klasen

Very reminiscent of Mike Richards check to the head of a defenseless David Booth last season…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwdvl5h31WU&feature=player_embedded#!

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by Seth Lake on Sep 16, 2010 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

That looked like a cheap shot to me

by Lil cutie on Sep 16, 2010 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Watch Clackson's 1st attempt to knock Klasen out of the game...

2:24 mark

Clackson tries to take a run at Klasen, Linus sidesteps the hit, Clackson sticks out his knee and makes contact. That lead immediately to the Flynn vs. Clackson fight…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrZE90PUKZ0 – 1st half of the 1st period

Ellis scores at 1:32 on a bomb from the blue line. Beck scores on the PP (Clackson got a minor for tripping for sticking his knee out) at the 5:44 mark on a beautiful redirect off a slap pass from Ellis.

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by Seth Lake on Sep 16, 2010 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions

FWIW

I haven’t yet read a single Florida fan defending that hit. As a matter of fact, the overwhelming opinion is that the hit was dirty and there is no place in the game for that type of stuff.

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by Seth Lake on Sep 16, 2010 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow, that looks like a textbook blind-side headshot to me.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 16, 2010 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh my. Clackson tries that in an NHL game and he’d end up stretchered off himself after getting beat up.

That’s just a despicable, uncalled for hit. Anyone know if there’s a suspension mechanism for these games? I know the ref didn’t call a penalty, but it deserved one.

by Chris Burton on Sep 16, 2010 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I honestly don’t know if there is any recourse for a play like that in a rookie camp exhibition, but I’m hoping Thom Abraham will ask Poile about it when he has him on the show this afternoon if we haven’t heard anything by then.

The hit is indefensible. I still have not seen a single person call it anything, but dirty. Florida fans are definitely taking the high road on this and should be applauded.

Now, my hope is that the Panthers do the right thing and hold Clackson out of today’s game since they have 13 forwards in camp and are only dressing 11 per game.

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by Seth Lake on Sep 16, 2010 8:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I hope they hold him out; too, and call it disciplinary reasons.

by Chris Burton on Sep 16, 2010 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Florida

has a few goons in-the-making. Guy should have been ejected first for the knee to knee and then for the head shot.

Anybody have a roster with jersey numbers? I know Ellis is #49, Geoffrion is #5, Flynn #45 and Klausen is #58 but who is #65? Is that Beck? Whoever it was he was a step ahead of everyone on the ice.

by TitanPredBearFan on Sep 16, 2010 8:28 AM EDT reply actions