Predators top Thrashers 4-3 as Nashville power play clicks

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 29, 2010 9:50 PM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Recaps

After sputtering its way through recent games, the Nashville Predators offense busted open to an extent tonight in Atlanta in a 4-3 win. David Legwand scored the clincher 8:12 into the third period off a battle in front of the Thrashers net, and Anders Lindback went the distance for Nashville, turning aside 23 of 26 shots.

Follow after the jump for a brief recap and the advanced stats...

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The encouraging news out of this one might be some power play effectiveness shown by the unit of Martin Erat, Matthew Lombardi and Patric Hornqvist up front, backed up by Shea Weber & Ryan Suter. They converted on opportunities twice during the middle portion of the second period, first when Suter cut towards the net and wristed home a pass from Hornqvist, and secondly when Martin Erat scored off a Suter assist. In total, the Preds PP went 2-for-3 on the night.

Earlier in the first period, Erat also opened the scoring for his first goal of the preseason, but Atlanta tied it shortly before intermission. After the two Nashville power play goals in the second period, the Thrashers responded quickly and brought the game back to a 3-3 tie within 4 minutes. Despite giving back the lead so quickly, the Preds buckled down from there and kept things tight in the 3rd period, outshooting Atlanta 7-5 down the stretch.

As for the advanced stats...

For a recap of what this table represents, take a look at what I posted Tuesday morning:

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
Colin Wilson	C	15:18	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	9	9	0
Jonas Andersson	R	14:16	1	0	0	1	4	6	-2	11	13	-2
David Legwand	C	14:00	4	0	0	0	7	9	-2	9	12	-3
Sergei Kostitsyn	L	13:58	0	1	0	1	5	6	-1	12	12	0
Martin Erat	R	13:53	1	0	0	0	3	4	-1	6	9	-3
Matthew Lombardi	C	13:49	1	0	1	0	3	3	0	8	8	0
Patric Hornqvist	R	13:24	3	1	0	1	11	7	4	20	9	11
Cal O'Reilly	C	13:19	0	0	0	0	11	7	4	19	9	10
Joel Ward	R	13:18	1	0	1	0	6	9	-3	8	13	-5
J-P Dumont	R	13:15	0	1	0	0	6	8	-2	8	12	-4
Marcel Goc	C	13:14	2	0	0	0	4	6	-2	10	13	-3
Steve Sullivan	L	12:07	2	1	1	0	12	7	5	18	10	8
Ryan Suter	D	19:32	2	3	0	0	8	5	3	18	8	10
Shea Weber	D	19:31	2	1	2	0	9	5	4	19	8	11
Kevin Klein	D	18:52	1	0	0	1	5	13	-8	11	22	-11
Aaron Johnson	D	18:08	0	3	1	1	5	12	-7	11	21	-10
Cody Franson	D	16:57	3	1	1	1	12	8	4	17	14	3
Alexander Sulzer	D	16:14	2	1	1	3	11	7	4	16	13	3

So who helped themselves in the battle for NHL jobs tonight?

Defense

Aaron Johnson assisted on the first and final goals, but his overall numbers as he was paired with Kevin Klein were not encouraging (-7 Shots On Goal +/-, and -10 Corsi). Sulzer didn't hit the scoresheet, but the Shots For & Against numbers were on the positive side as he spent the night paired with Cody Franson.

Goal

The fact that Anders Lindback got the entire action does not look good for Mark Dekanich. As Seth wrote after the game on Twitter, "Hmm, can't see Pekka not playing in the final preseason game. Lindback playing 60 minutes tonight = trouble for Dex. Want to hear from Trotz". This may have been Dekanich's last chance to make an impression on the coaching staff, and the fact that he didn't get in the game speaks volumes.

Forward

Cal O'Reilly had a quietly effective game, and while he didn't figure in the scoring his Shots For & Against numbers were strongly positive, and were matched by an excellent night on faceoffs, going 12-for-17. Jonas Andersson didn't do much to draw attention, and since he doesn't require waivers to go to Milwaukee, he would appear to be on the outside looking in.

So what are your thoughts on the roster heading into the final preseason game at Washington Sunday afternoon?

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Comments

I'm just tired of reading about this team...

…AND I’M EXCITED TO SEE THEM ON SUNDAY!!!

by stackiii on Sep 29, 2010 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

Going to the caps arena to watch?

I am going to be out there as well

by Mike St.Vincent on Sep 29, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey Dirk

You mentioned in the game thread that you had just downloaded an app. Was this an app for 102.9 or something to stream the radio? If so, could you give me the name? Thanks.

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Sep 29, 2010 10:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

There’s an iTunes app for 102.9, just search for “Buzz 102.9” and you should find it. If nit, let me know and I’ll find a link.

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

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 29, 2010 10:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Got it.

Thanks!

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Sep 29, 2010 10:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Here is a link anyway

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

Fight on Stafon!

by Aditya T (smashville) on Sep 29, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Shea and Suter

producing massive corsi spreads in the preseason. Hopefully, they can keep it up.

by Sam Page on Sep 29, 2010 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Thats pretty normal for those two; if I recall correctly it was like that all last season.

by Chris Burton on Sep 29, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

That's why...

…they should be split up! Maybe they can bring those kinds of results to a new partner, or at least give it a shot…

…and I find it troublesome that Klein’s numbers are again DISASTROUS!!! He’d better get his head screwed on straight or else we should scratch him. He was given the benefit of the doubt last year, but heads should roll this year if he sucks it up again. Although he played quite well when paired with Frankie the Bull.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Sep 30, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

eh

Klein’s much better when paired with Bouillon. He got stuck with AJ last night.

by Chris Burton on Sep 30, 2010 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

?

I’m not sure who got stuck with who…probably cost AJ (who had 2 As in that game) a spot on the team.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Oct 3, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Good win for the boys tonight.

Despite the 3 GA, I’m encouraged by Lindback’s play. I think the time he spent in major Swedish leagues is probably more beneficial than the AHL, and I’m not that nervous with him as backup goalie right now.

by Chris Burton on Sep 29, 2010 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

Glad someone reads my tweets!

Can’t help but think Lindback has secured the No. 2 job to start the year. 60 minutes is pretty telling tonight since the preseason finale is generally used as a dress rehersal and I can’t see Pekka going nearly two weeks between games (9/27-10/9).

Without seeing the game I can’t really say who helped their cause more on the blueline. Johnson had two assists, finished with a plus-1 rating, and played on the second pairing, but looking at the advanced statstics was arguably one of our worst players defensively on the night. Sulzer was scoreless, had two shots on goal, and finished with an even rating playing on the third pairing, but was on the positive side of the ledger in the advanced stats. This battle is likely to go down till the finale even though I can’t see how Johnson doesn’t have the advantage unless there was something seriously lacking in his game at the defensive end tonight.

If Lundmark continues to miss time with his groin injury, the battle at forward is over. Andersson has largely disappeared since the exhibition schedule began and is waiver exempt. O’Reilly has gotten serious minutes in the past couple of games and while he hasn’t gotten onto the scoresheet, his Corsi rating does show his effectiveness on the ice. It’s gonna likely come down to the finale, but my money’s on Cal after tonight’s game to earn the spot as the 13th forward to start the year.

Predators Hockey: Live it, Love it...
Follow me on Twitter: @SLakePreds

by Seth Lake on Sep 29, 2010 11:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Question:

Do you (not directed at anybody in particular) think NHL coaches and GMs pay that much attention to modern statistics such as the Corsi rating, or is it just something used amongst die-hard fans and analysts?

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Sep 30, 2010 1:06 AM EDT reply actions

Some teams are known to use advanced stats quite a bit. Others, not so much. The Corsi number, after all, is named for a Buffalo assistant who came up with a while back as a means to measure the amount of work a goaltender really faced (because even if a shot gets blocked or misses the net, they need to react to it).

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

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 30, 2010 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions