Nashville Predators 2, Anaheim Ducks 5: Rinne's Return Spoiled

What was supposed to be a great game and an exciting return for Pekka Rinne, turned out to be a dominant performance by the Ducks. The Predators came alive in the third period, but it was a little too late at that point.

The Ducks came out firing. They got after Pekka Rinne early and caused some problems. Jakob Silfverberg opened up the scoring on some bad communication between Rinne and Shea Weber. Sami Vatanen jumped in on the scoring half way through the first. Matt Beleskey and Jakob Silfverberg each tallied within the first five minutes of the second period. Colin Wilson finally got the Predators on the board in the third period. James Neal made the game interesting with a PP goal late in the game. In the end though, Corey Perry sealed the deal with an empty netter.

Random Observations

• Well, I don't want to say that Rinne looked rusty early, but he looked rusty early. That was a bad miscommunication play between Rinne and Weber. I can't say that I was surprised to see mistakes early on. Anytime you miss three weeks of game time action, you are going to need to shake off some cob webs,
• Rust. I am blaming this all on rust. Yup, that is what I am going with.
• Zone entry was a serious issue for the Preds in that first period. They looked flat going through the neutral zone into the offensive zone. I am sure that Laviolette tore into the team about entering the zone. The beginning of the second period wasn't any better. The Ducks were already on the man advantage, and the Preds were called for another right at the start of the second. Rough night all around.
• Rinne looked like he finally settled down in the second period. He kept the Predators in it even after all those 5-on-3 penalty kills. Unfortunately for the Preds, all that sustained pressure from the power play carried over to even strength as the Ducks netted one as the man advantage expired.
• Well, I guess when it rains, it pours.
• Nashville couldn't buy a goal at this point. Even when they get a man advantage, they still somehow end up losing the power play due to a penalty taken. That second period was just down right horrendous.
• The Preds seem to be using the chip away slowly method in the third. They just wanted to get puck to the net as quickly and as often as they possibly could. The strategy paid off with Wilson's goal. On a side note, that goal helped Wilson set a new career high for himself in points (36) and goals (17).
• Anaheim got their first shot of the third period with eight minutes left in the game. At least you can't say the Preds weren't bringing the heat.
• Bold move to pull Rinne for the 6-on-4 advantage late in the third, but it paid off with Neal scoring on the power play. /

OTF's Super Duper Stars of the Game

• Colin Wilson: Let's be real, he is the only one who really got anything going tonight. He was able to score and draw some timely penalties.
• James Neal: He made the game interesting late in the third with his power play goal.
• Filip Forsberg: Because I needed to fill this spot, and he had an assist.

Tweets Of The Night

"I'm Pekka Rinne, and I have DirecTV." "And I'm 'First Game In Three Weeks' Pekka Rinne, and I have cable."

— Zack Bennett (@ZackTN) February 6, 2015

Preds 0-0-0 when trailing by 4 after the 2nd period. #fancystats

— Frank The Turtle (@LavysTurtle) February 6, 2015

That Colin Wilson kid has come a long way, eh? pic.twitter.com/CAoULIICwb

— Admirals Roundtable (@adsroundtable) February 6, 2015

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