x

Already member? Login first!

Comments / New

Nashville Predators 0, Pittsburgh Penguins 3: Back To Reality

Posted on by Anish Patel

With the Pittsburgh Penguins in town, the Nashville Predators were quickly reminded that they are far from elite in this league. That’s not to say that they aren’t a good team, it just means that they may not be able to hang with the big boys of the league quite yet.

Tonight’s game marked the homecoming of former Preds, Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. They were both honored with a tribute video and a great ovation by the crowd.

Hornqvist was able to notch an assist in this one when he set up Sidney Crosby for the first goal of the game. Evgeni Malkin and Pascal Dupuis both added power play goals in the third to put the Penguins up by three goals. THe Preds were unable to get a tally in this one, and get shutout for the first time this season.

Random Observations

  • It’s James Neal bobble head night tonight. You have to think that he is going to score another hat trick because of that fact, right? It seems like we will need him to do it for sure now. As I was typing the last sentence, Crosby got one in. It looked like it could end up being Patric Hornqvist’s goal, but as of right now, it will stand as Crosby’s goal. What a homecoming that would be if he gets credited for the goal.
  • Sitting from home, it seems like that goal took the air out of the stadium. The Predators were looking good to start the game, out shooting the Penguins 4-0 before the goal. They have to do something to get the crowd back into this game. Oh, and by the way, shots at this point are 7-4 in favor of Pittsburgh.
  • For me, I will always root for Horny. How could you not like the guy? He did the dirty work that nobody else wanted to do. He busted his butt for us while he was here. I can’t be anything but happy for his success in Pittsburgh.
  • This power play is bad. I don’t understand the problem. That time we had the possession, just couldn’t get any shots off. It is almost like we either get the possession and no shots, or we get shots and lose the puck afterwards. Something has to give. You have to think that things will eventually start clicking. Honestly though, who knows.
  • Who would have thought that specials team would be so important. Everyone, that’s who. The Preds can’t convert on the power play, and now they can’t defend the penalty kill. Malkin made us pay on their power play. I think everyone needs to get the Neal bobble heads going to give him some mojo. Come on James, we need the Heel to come out of you right about now.
  • Welp…(this is all I can say about how this third period is going so far.
  • Thank you Pete Weber for giving me the exact time of when Neal hit the puck off the post. Desperation is definitely setting in for Nashville. The chances are there. but they just can’t sneak one past Fleury. Be prepared for hockey analysts all over to give Fleury the Vezina after tonight’s game.
  • You aren’t going to win many games in this league when you only have 19 shots on goal with five minutes left to play in the game. I would expect everything to go to the net at this point. There is nothing to lose in that strategy, especially when Fleury has a track record of letting in iffy goals.
  • This definitely was a wake up call for the Preds. There a lot of things that need to be corrected (special teams to be specific), but I expect them to make the proper adjustments before they go on their western Canada road trip next week/

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Again, I am a homer for Hornqvist, so I am going to give him a spot here in this one. He tallied an assist to continue his hot scoring streak to begin the season
  • Terry Crisp’s intermission breakdowns. He is a man with a vast amount of knowledge and knows how to impart wisdom on the young ones out there.
  • Olli Jokinen’s hair. Cause when all else fails, we can always give his hair a star of the game./

Tweets Of The Night

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick

Roll the video highlights…

“>

Talking Points