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Nashville Predators 1, Winnipeg Jets 5: Game Seven Disaster Ends Preds Season

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

The Nashville Predators’ season is over after a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

In the first ever Game 7 at Bridgestone Arena, the Preds looked out of sorts from the beginning. Puck watching, mis-timed passes and some seriously awful goaltending.

To start things off, Tyler Myers just threw a puck on goal from the corner and Pekka Rinne let it squeak by the near post. Of all the goals to give up, and after all the big saves he’s made in the series, Rinne gives up that one.

Then he did it again, but this time it was Paul Stastny. An easy rebound to collect pops up on the near side and Stastny whacks it into the net. That made it 2-0 Jets.

And then came the hook. Juuse Saros replaced Rinne in net 10 minutes into the game. It was quite a moment, and quite obviously the biggest chance for Saros to do something significant in the playoffs for this franchise. I never would have predicted something like this to happen, but yet it happened.

Not long after that, P.K. Subban scored to get the Preds on the board. His power play goal from the blue line made it 2-1 with 4:06 left in the 1st period. His celebration was muted, which was interesting.

The 2nd period was pretty much all Jets. They poured on the chances in the Preds’ zone and did a good job of clogging the middle (where have we heard this before?). The real back-breaker came when Mark Scheifele scored to make it 3-1 with 2:10 left in the game.

A power play came and went for the Preds and I swear I saw a tumbleweed blow onto the ice.

Suddenly it was the 3rd period and the home team was staring at a two goal deficit. Desperate doesn’t come close to describing it. And yet? The Jets had very little to worry about. The Preds put token pressure on Hellebuyck, who had very easy to make saves.

The Jets added a power play goal with about eight minutes left in the game. Then Scheifele’s empty netter iced it away. The game ended with a very loud whimper.

And now for the narrative that will put a giant ugly bow on the disappointment that was the ending to this season: for all the noise the Preds made about getting home ice advantage in the playoffs, they did absolutely jack with it. Going 3-4 at home in the playoffs is not going to cut it.

See everyone next season, I suppose.

Random Observations

  • With Fisher out, Ryan Hartman will plug in to that 4th line with Jarnkrok and Hartnell. Perfect fit.
  • Woo buddy. Kyle Conner with a speed move around the goal and almost had the wrap around to start things off. Subban was there to help out.
  • Stop puck watching. Like you’ve never seen them play fast before?
  • Power play: Arvy had a chance at rebound but couldn’t get there. Not much going on that man advantage.
  • Turris with a nice backcheck and then switched to cover Connor on the drop pass. Tied him up in front. Good defensive shift from him.
  • Jets score first on an awfully weak goal. Terrible, really. Rinne has to cover that.
  • Oh my god and then another. Stastny. He backhanded one that Rinne should have covered as well.
  • Juuse Saros is coming into the game. Holy hell, what has happened.
  • BOOM. SUBBAN. ON THE POWER PLAY. IT’S 2-1.
  • I cannot believe how this game has started. I never could have predicted this.
  • Wow this 2nd period is just not good. Nothing going, save for a couple of almost chances that didn’t even end with a shot.
  • Jets are all over the place and the Preds defense is back to its woeful ways.
  • And then the Jets score. Scheifele. 3-1. That’s a killer.
  • Folks, I have a feeling this might be it.
  • Look, when this is all over, there will be WAY TOO MANY people who blame this on Rinne’s two awful goals allowed. But the entire team was outplayed and when they finally got their legs, they ran out of time.
  • Hot take: this season was a success and you are wrong if you think otherwise. /

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  1. Only one tonight: the fans. Y’all brought it. So sorry the home team couldn’t make it happen for you.

Honorable mention: P.K. Subban, just cause he scored I guess.

Tweets of the Night

Game Extras

Talking Points