The Flyers got on the board first in tonight’s contest from a tap-in by Jakub Voracek. The Predators were doing..something..in front of Pekka Rinne and Voracek found his 9th goal of the season with 5:45 off the clock in the first period. The Predators were once again caught flat-footed in their zone and struggled to break the puck out through the neutral zone with control.
Ryan Ellis was found guilty of Nashville’s first penalty and the Flyers entered the second period on the power play. The Predators were able to kill the Flyers’ power play, but Ryan Hartman managed to be whistled for a delay of game. However, the Predators were once again able to kill the penalty.
Nick Bonino, Calle Järnkrok, and Ryan Hartman managed to grind it out for a tying goal right after killing the two Philadelphia penalties. The play by both teams really picked up in the second period. Claude Giroux capitalized on another neutral-zone turnover to give the Flyers the lead with 11:25 remaining in the second period.
The Predators got their first power play of the evening thanks to a high-stick from Ivan Provorov. Provorov also was given a 10-minute misconduct penalty after shoving a referee. The Predators managed to kill their own power play by taking a penalty themselves. Wayne Simmonds was whistled for a trip and the play went to 4-on-4. Philadelphia took yet another penalty on a delay-of-game call with 2:13 remaining in the second period.
With 2:09 remaining in the second, Kevin Fiala was high sticked and Philadelphia fans were incensed. Rookie goaltender Carter Hart was able to make some key saves for the Flyers on the 5-on-3 Nashville advantage.
The Predators opened up the third on a man advantage. They were unable to convert, however. With around 5 minutes gone in the third, Nashville returned to the power play. The Predators were unable to get anything going in the offensive zone. The Preds took an untimely penalty with around 8 minutes remaining in the third period, but the penalty killers came up big.
With around 2:45 remaining in the third period, Nashville once again went on the power play. Pekka Rinne remained on the bench to allow the Predators to go 6-on-4. Nashville was unable to find the tying goal and dropped their 9th consecutive game on the road.
Random Observations
- Merry Grittymas?
- After his recall, Tyler Gaudet is a healthy scratch tonight.
- Hi, Scott Hartnell! You look better in gold.
- Roman Josi and Claude Giroux working for that puck! Epic.
- This is a…time.
- Delay of game calls are stupid.
- Holy Pekka breakaway save!
- Bonino Bonino Bonino!!!!!
- Stop. Turning. Over. The. Puck. In. The. Neutral. Zone.
- “Hooking” on Craig Smith. K.
- Penalties everywhere.
- MORE PENALTIES!
- How are the Predators un
- able to convert on such a long man advantage?
- Discombobulation and disorganization.
- Anthony Bitetto just got goosed by Scott Laughton.
- Roman Josi seems like he’s the only one doing anything tonight.
- The power play needs some serious work.
- I don’t know what to say about the Preds taking their ninth consecutive loss on the road…my only thoughts are not suitable for this recap. /
Super Duper Stars of the Game
- Scott Hartnell: Congratulations on a great career, Hartsy!
Tweets of the Night
That was the best ceremonial puck drop ever.
— Robby Stanley (@RStanleyNHL) December 21, 2018
That 5 on 3 was hard to watch. Oh the back and forth passing.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) December 21, 2018
Scott Hartnell dancing with his baby at warmups is the cutest thing you’ll see all day 😊 pic.twitter.com/xLz1K8Ytao
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 20, 2018