I'm not allowed to used real photos since I don't own them... So here is an artist's interpretation of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg

For those who don't know me I am Link from the Predators and music blog Puck & Punk. Due to a scattering of official OnTheForecheck staff Dirk asked me to fill in with the game recap tonight. Let's get started.

I wrote pretty much an entire page of stuff about the game tonight, but here's the thing: it all pretty much sucked. The Red Wings dominated the play for the entire night. They also, not surprisingly, outshot the Predators heavily 37 to 19. With this loss the Preds are now 1-3-1 in their last 5 games with losses, including 1 one OT loss, in the last 4.

So, here's what we're doing.

Let's start with the good:

• Roman Josi looked solid out there. He played about 5:40 in the first two periods, but then played just over 6:30 in the final period stepping in due to a lower-body injury to Bouillon.
• Jack Hillen scored his first goal as a Predator on a slick pass from Collin Wilson bringing the Preds to within three goals of tying the Red Wings.
• No one in the Game Day Thread succumbed to alcohol poisoning.

How about the bad:

• Pekka has been having some balance issues. Either he's spiking his Gatorade with kossu or he's crashed into the boards one to many times try to slow down dumped in pucks.
• The Predators managed only small spurts of effort, most of that effort coming only in the third period after the Wings were already up by 4 goals.
• The Red Wings seemed like they were well prepared tonight. Their defense seemed to effortlessly frustrated the Nashville squad all night while the Detroit forecheck was merciless and nigh unstoppable.
• Tootoo continues to struggle with clearing the puck in his defensive zone. I've been harping about it all season, and again it cost the Predators a goal.
• The Preds ended up being out shot 19-37. I'm pretty sure those totals were that close because of the Preds finishing the game with a pair of power plays.
• Trotz's lines were again bonkers. Again. By the third period they had settled down into what fans are more used to.
• A shot from Roman Josi caught Patrick Eaves in the ear, and the Red Wings penalty killer was stretchered off the ice. The replay showed that the puck hit his shoulder and rolled up before hitting his ear. The impact could have been far force, so that was fortunate for the forward.

Here is the night's only non-depressing highlight. I recommend that you just watch this and then hum quietly to yourself until you go to sleep.

Now the Predators have a one day to straighten out their game before a back-to-back against a pair of teams that seem to have our number. Monday they play the revitalized Oilers, while Tuesday Nashville faces offs against the always frustrating Calgary Flames.