Predators 5, Hurricanes 2: Powerful power play propels Preds
by Marc Torrence on Jan 7, 2012 11:04 PM EST
in Nashville Predators Game Recaps
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PrintAfter a disappointing result two nights ago, the Predators once again looked like the team that dominated opponents on the power play before Shea Weber went down with a concussion.
Four of Nashville's five goals came on the power play after it had hit a cold streak with the captain out of the lineup.
Ryan Ellis also notched his first career NHL assist and, later, goal.
It was a fun night for the record-setting eighth straight sellout crowd at Bridgestone Arena, as several Predators had big games.
Video highlights and other various thoughts from the big win after the jump:
- Man, how we've missed Weber's slapshot, huh? The captain got the scoring started with one of his trademark blasts from the blue line after a nice set up from Kostitsyn and Erat.
- And speaking of missing players, how about Craig Smith? It was great to see the Honey Badger get back on the board in the first period. Legwand sent a nice cross-ice pass over to Smith who lasered it in for Nashville's first power play goal of the game.
- It was hard to tell exactly what happened on the third goal, but it was clear that Ryan Ellis set it all up on the power play. Ellis let it rip from the point, Fisher controlled the rebound, and then beat Peters in front, with Hornqvist screening him. They changed the scoring from Fisher to Hornqvist, saying he tipped the puck in front, but either way, Ellis got his first career NHL point with the assist. But Ellis was not done. Stay tuned...
- The fourth goal was a classic Hornqvist goal. After getting shoved down in the crease, Hornqvist was able to swat the loose puck in with his stick after multiple attempts by Carolina to cover it.
- The beloved Swede was denied a hat trick, however, after the war room in Toronto determined that he kicked in a rebound try, and didn't touch it with his stick. It was a tough call, but a quick look at the overhead camera angle showed pretty clearly that it was the right call.
- Boy does Ellis have some shot. On Nashville's fifth power play of the night, Ellis took another rip and this time found the back of the net for his first career NHL goal. Jack Hillen was scratched tonight in favor of Ellis, and after tonight's game, you've got to think Ellis is here to stay.
- For all of the great offensive performances, Pekka Rinne was superb in net, and made a couple of huge saves late in the game, including a sprawling glove save that will be shown on highlight reels at the end of the year.
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Alliteration...
I dig it..
GO PREDS!!!!
by HardCorePredFan316 on Jan 7, 2012 11:08 PM EST reply actions
Can’t remember which team’s SBNation site it was, but when I read a game recap at our opponent’s site, they’d spelled out a relevant word with the first letters of each sentence in the bulleted section.
Great recap, thanks Marc!
Love thinking that Ellis isn’t going anywhere.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
I would hate to see the Preds lose the year on the contract,
but if he starts scoring like crazy, I will be OK with him staying.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
i hesitate a bit too
but he’s bringing a whole new Ellie-ment (see what i did there) to our offense, and moves the puck so smooth
Glad to see another sellout...
Let’s keep it going.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
Man I'm really giddy about Ellis's potential
and glad to see our d-lines starting to take shape. I’d be okay with Weber-Suter, Josi-Ellis, Klein-Cube. Sorry Blum and Hillen
Blum had been scoring, but I guess they think he is a liability defensively.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
Ellis and josi on the same line PLEASE!!!!!! Woul be a younger weber suter line
by Shadow23 on Jan 7, 2012 11:20 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Ellis is hard not to like
Wow, nice shot on the goal! But, he was the point man on the powerplay! They tried tits in the last game but he just wasn’t doing much. The kid does score goals on the moon.
Cube got some chipped teeth
and needs a root canal tomorrow. Ouchie :(
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Fom my seat in the stands
the outcome of this game is very deceiving. Pekka had to stand on his head and three carolina shots had to clang off the iron for us to win. Our defense has a long, long way to go if we are going to make the playoffs. We have to pick up a lot of points in january, because I don’t see us picking up over 10 points in february-the month is just too tough for this team.
As I alluded to in a previous thread, the Canes suck.
I really need to find a new Eastern Conference team. It looks like half the players on the Canes are just getting ready to be traded. Muller has some job cut out for him in getting that bunch to compete. They do make nice guests: easy win for the home team and no one gets hurt. :D ……… :/
That will be the easiest 2pts we get for the rest of the season. Good to get Willy back in the lineup, makes a big differfence on our PP. And good on Ellis for getting his first NHL goal!
Now, back to my letter telling JR what an incompentent boob he is…………
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 7, 2012 11:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah, the Sabres suck too.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Considering where the Sabres are in the standings, most of their fans would probably agree with that.
The Canes actually winning a game last night against a bad Sabres team doesn’t negate from the fact that the Canes are bad…..really bad.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 12:02 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
or...
you could just go all in with the Preds? :)
hockey connoisseur. t-shirt addict. not famous. nerd.
But that would make him a Pred fan.
Him and CAustin don’t roll like that.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
Always like to have a backup plan. :)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 3:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Skinner coming back?
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.
Where are the stat links?
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
by cisar on Jan 8, 2012 12:01 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I think that’s Dirk’s job.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
I just plugged them in...
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
Geeze Dirk, isn’t that Cisar an ungrateful dude? I mean I even drove 2 hours to the game and was going to say hi to him and he up and moves to better seats.
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 8, 2012 2:06 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks, Dirk!
How’s that!
Can’t believe you didn’t stop down to see me. Sweet seats, though!
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
I did see where you and you had awesome seats!!!
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 8, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
where you were…. where you were…. typing fail
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 8, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
Correct me if I'm wrong but
I believe Fisher’s assist on the Ellis goal was his 200th career assist.
Haven’t done it in a while, but I used to go to the other team’s GDT and share the best comments. Decided to do that tonight:
1) It probably a good thing we are not and won’t be in the same division a Nashville. It would be 6 losses guaranteed.
2) How many people just yelled "Give me my damn hat back!"
3) did we just give ANOTHER player his 1st NHL goal? (We can relate to that one, can’t we?)
…and this one, a comment about Rinne:
4) he’s pretty good…
Interesting notes too:
The Predators are 6-1-1 when Weber scores.
The last time Carolina won at Nashville was Dec. 3, 2002.
The Predators are 17-2-2 when scoring more than two goals.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Imagine where we’d be if we scored more than two goals more often? ;)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 1:06 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
last time?
Wasn’t 12/3/02 the only time Carolina won at Nashville, ever?
Don’t look now!
Klein with the positive corsi!
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
That made me go look.
Reverse psychology is magic.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
Seeing them in the playoffs would be a Godsend.
What’re we 3-0 against the sorry Blues this year?
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Chris was finally right…. the Blues are decent!
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 8, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
now it's 3 of them across the track at the halfway mark
I hated tonight’s outcome. Not so much that Detroit won, but that it went OT and Chicago picked up a loser point.
Here's an odd stat.
While it’s no shock the Canes are one of the worst PK teams in the league (they pretty much stink at everything), it’s pretty amazing that 7 out of the 10 worst PK teams are currently in a playoff spot. You would think a bad PK unit would sink a team, but not so much this season at least.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 1:48 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Ellis’s ass scored as many goals as the Canes did…. they should be embarrassed
60% of the time it works every time
He scores goals on the MOON!
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
by davisca on Jan 8, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
He's gotta get rid of that nasty child-beard though.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
He stills looks like he’s in High School, LOL!
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 3:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Haha......
It takes a long time for some people to grow a REAL beard. That’s a real graduation to manhood…lol. I was probably 25 or 26 before I could grow one where there were no patches.
Til then, you gotta just shave every day!
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
Looks like they have him next to Suter?
Good idea.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
I think all the D-men are together. I think that line goes something like Weber-Suter-Ellis-Josi-Klein-Boullion-Hillen.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
questions raised by the d
Does ellis stay up? If so does hillen sit now?
by Shadow23 on Jan 8, 2012 2:45 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I think Ellis has look good everytime he has been put in. I may just be a Ellis – homer but I think he has to stay in until him or someone collapse defensively or offensively.
Ive held off judgement on our young guys till i see them in person but after seeing ellis the kid can play amd will make an impact in the league as will josi. Them on the same line looks like the next move because it keeps all our d pair together
by Shadow23 on Jan 8, 2012 12:40 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I’m with you. Maybe my judgement is clouded with Homerness, but I’ve been very happy with how Ellis has been playing. I’m confident when he’s on the ice, and I love watching him on the Pee-Pee (as Josi says, hahaha). I think he has a few issues keeping guys to the outside, but who doesn’t have faults? And speaking of, I can’t fault him for the ass-goal, cause what are you gonna do? Use your butt to hit the puck away from the goal like a baseball? I don’t think so haha. Plus, Trotz seems to have faith in him on the PK and the PP and in 5-on-5, all of which are fantastic because that’s every aspect of the game.
Oh and that goal last night!? Man, he knew EXACTLY where he was putting it. That was a thing of beauty.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
What has been most surprising to me is how well Ellis has been defensively for the most part. As a #5 or #6 Dman the rest of the way, I have no issues with him staying up here. Gives us a good 2nd PP unit pointman as well.
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 9, 2012 12:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hah!
Check out the shoes he’s wearing – I’ve been promoting those over at Hockey Gear HQ:
http://hockeygearhq.com/2011/11/nashville-predators-reebok-zig-dynamic-training-shoes/
They have them for almost every team in the NHL.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
I just realized that the Preds have the exact same number of wins and losses as last year at the point in the season.
Contributor at Music City Miracles. and On The Forecheck.
Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.
Follow @thawardasa.
by Aditya T (smashville) on Jan 8, 2012 3:09 AM EST reply actions
LOL...
I have pointed this out and was chastised.
While I know it is not a predictor, it is good to know that the Preds are in a good position going forward. The Preds need to score more goals. They also need to get their goals allowed down. The Preds have scored more goals than the division leaders, but have allowed about 20 more.
Will the Preds start scoring more? WIll they acquire a top 6 forward? Will DP say that calling up Bourque was his trade deadline move? Will Rinne hit his stride?
There are lots of questions, but it is good to know that with the youth and the games lost to injury that the Preds have, they are in a decent spot at this point. A lot can change in a few games though.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
The problem with comparing last years results at the 41 game mark to this years is that our 2nd half of the season schedule this season is harder than last seasons was.
And where did you come up with that we’ve scored more goals than the division leaders? Canucks? Sharks? Bruins? Rangers?
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 3:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
more goals than division leaders
I think he was specifically referring to St. Looie
After tonights 3-2 OT win by the Wings over the Hawks, we now have a 3 way tie for first in the Central! So now we have 2 of them with more goals then us. ;)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 8, 2012 10:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
On the bright side, we are in sole possession of second place, right?
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
Firmly ahead of the 3rd place team, Columbus. :)
Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!
by Grizzledbear on Jan 9, 2012 12:07 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yep, when I posted it was St. Louis...
but if you want to count all of the division leaders, you can count Florida.
I am not saying that the Preds don’t need to score goals, THEY DO! I am saying that they need to get the goals allowed down as well.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
It's Wilson being back in the lineup, not Weber.
After a disappointing result two nights ago, the Predators once again looked like the team that dominated opponents on the power play before Shea Weber went down with a concussion.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:01 PM EST reply actions
WILLLLLLLLLLLLLSOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
by cisar on Jan 8, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah buddy!
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
I yelled that out really loudly from Section 115
I didn’t get any across the arena responses though!
I was depressed.
How can I be a human rocket ship without any rocket fuel?
Wilson was a stud
He’s developing nicely into a reliable power forward. So many times he was able to shrug off defenders and create space for himself in the offensive zone… Another young buck who needs a long-term contract extension sooner rather than later.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
Yes, his skating has improved tremendously, and he seems to be at a point where he is very comfortable and is more able to fight off defenders with the upper body strength. AND he seems to be having fun out there.
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
AND he seems to be having fun out there.
Last night the Mrs. and I were in the lower bowl, and you could clearly see him rocking out to LMFAO during warmups. My wife was like, “well he IS sexy and he knows it!”. Heady times for a guy like him, and you know know that he’s about to hit the jackpot.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
I was at the top of the tunnel for last night’s game and Wilson came back a number of times, smiling after his shift missed a chance, one time talking to Marty, “Oh, Man, that was f’ing close!”. It wasn’t like he was happy they missed or anything, just realizing that they were getting close. He did come back once, looking pissed that he missed a chance. He seems like a different person than last year, enjoying himself, more mature, better understanding of the game at this level, cuter smile. (Wife made me put that last one in there.)
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
LMAO!
You two ST*%$U before you start scaring people away from here! Yeah right, your wife made you put that in there…………
Maybe Mr. PotatoHead isn’t flipping with his head like he did last year? That’s got my vote. Trotz actually seems to like Wilson now and Wilson seems to not be afraid to make the occasional gaffe this year, unlike last year. Indeed, Trotz has had a difficult transition to using a player who has offensive skills.
Kinda like a chimpanzee who picks up a stick and it takes him 5 years to figure out that he can actually put it into a termite mound and get a meal.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
Trotz and Wilson's relationship:
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
Trying again......
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe here?
<a href="http://" >
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
Or here......
<img src=“”height: 390px; width: 640px">"/>
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
I'm so mad I forgot how to post videos.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
Hey davisca, post a video of chimps using a stick to dig for termites....LOL!
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
Psst… there is a button called “preview”.
It is your friend.
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
by cisar on Jan 8, 2012 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Definitely agree with your sentiments.
That’s why one of the triplets gotsta go!
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is where the Stanley Cup can be found.
by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Jan 8, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
agree with you about Willy, Dirk! The power play sucks without him. He comes back and we get 4 goals. He creates a ton of space and deserves more points than he has. It will start showing up more on the score sheet soon I hope! Kudos to Willy
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 8, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
Don't forget Weber.
I think it was HB who said that the defense goes out to front Weber and it opens up all sorts of space to move. Let’s hope they can keep it up.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
He's been playing like an absolute BEAST this year.
I love it. This is the Wilson I knew was in there hiding last year… so, so glad to see him come out. He might have some of the sweetest hands on the team, too, next to Marty and HB. Man can Willy stick-handle.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
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