The Nashville Predators dropped a close one tonight to the Winnipeg Jets. It had the makings of a comeback, but just didn’t play out that way.
The Jets opened up the scoring early in the first with two power play goals from Andrew Ladd and Mark Scheifele. The Predators came on strong afterwards, but couldn’t get anything past Ondrej Pavelec. They finally got one to go in during the second period. And of course, it was Filip Forsberg who brought Nashville within one goal. In the end though, it wasn’t enough as Blake Wheeler put in the empty netter to ice the game.
Random Observations
- I am not sure if they showed it on the Nashville coverage, but I watched the Winnipeg coverage tonight, and in the pre-game, they had a great presentation for Hockey Fights Cancer. It’s definitely great to see the NHL give back like that.
- The call to rest Pekka Rinne tonight quickly became a horrible one. Andrew Ladd tipped one past Carter Hutton on their power play. Then Mark Scheifele scored on the second power play goal of the game. The goals were only 2:36 minutes apart. The Predators were playing on their heels for both of those power play. I have mentioned this before, but if you can’t win the special teams battle, you can’t win many games.
- I was glad to see the Preds wake up in the second half of the first period. They were playing prevent defense for the first ten minutes of the game, and it cost them two goals. On a side note, coach Laviolette took a puck right above the eye and it didn’t even faze him. Take note Preds’ players, Laviolette doesn’t care about your excuses, he would suit up himself if he could.
- The Predators came out flat in the second period. That is not what you want when playing on the road, while being down by two goals. Winnipeg got all the chances in the beginning of that period.That scrum that sent Evander Kane and Roman Josi to the penalty was the most exciting part of that first five minutes.
- The Preds had another great second half of the period. All the chances went their way, and they even got a power play opportunity out of it. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize on the man advantage. Fortunately, we have a guy that goes by #PrinceFilip who just doesn’t care whether there is a power play or not. He got the puck to sneak past Pavelec to end their shut out streak.
- The Predators, once again, were just bad on the power play. It looked like they couldn’t carry over any momentum from the last two games in which they scored on the power play. I just can’t fathom how so much offensive talent can be so bad on the man advantage.
- Hutton played significantly better after given up those two quick goals in the first. Yes, I know they were on the power play, but giving up goals early can get to a goalie. He stayed composed and kept the Preds in the game.
OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game
- Filip Forsberg. He continues to lead all rookies in points this season. Is it to early for a #Forsberg4Calder hashtag?
- Peter Laviolette and the cut above his eye. Anytime you can take a puck to the eye and not miss a beat, you know you’re a tough guy.
- The trainer who patched up Peter Laviolette. That guy did some great work to stop the bleeding above his eye. /
Tweets Of The Nights
This start is not ideal. #analysis
— Preds Analytics (@PredsAnalytics) November 5, 2014
@OnTheForecheck Lavi’s save percentage leading the Preds tonight.
— Frank Marco (@FrankieMarco) November 5, 2014
The Winnipeg crowd is booing. They give the Preds power play too much credit.
— Dan D Bradley (@DanDBradley) November 5, 2014
Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick
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