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Nashville Predators 2, Calgary Flames 3 (SO): Pekka Rinne’s Effort Wasted

The Predators returned home after a quick road trip and promptly blew a two goal lead to the Calgary Flames. Despite an outstanding night from Pekka Rinne—he stopped 30 shots, many of which were of the high danger variety—the Preds walk away with a mere loser point.

Filip Forsberg opened the scoring for the Predators, putting home a loose rebound in front of Mike Smith on the power play. A little over a minute later, the Preds had another power play chance and Roman Josi rocketed home a shot from the right circle.  That made it 2-0 Preds barely eight minutes into the game.

The Flames ended up out shooting the Preds 11-9 in the first period, but they couldn’t get anything by Pekka Rinne.

The Preds had another power play early in the 2nd and came very close to putting another one by Smith. The Flames killed the penalty though, then had a few power plays of their own. The Preds answered with some fine defensive play, backed by some other worldly saves by Pekka Rinne. Kevin Fiala missed a wide open net (it was bad) which would have made it 3-0.

The 2nd period was full of action at both ends, but no goals. At the end of two, the Preds led 2-0.

In the third period, the Predators started to play more conservatively: shorter shifts, more puck dumping, and less forechecking. They generated a few chances early, but not much after that. Meanwhile, the Flames kept pressing. They finally got on the board when Matthew Tkachuk flicked a wrist shot by Rinne with 9:25 left in the 3rd.

Then Michael Ferland backhanded one top shelf by Rinne on a semi-breakaway and suddenly it was a tie hockey game.

The rest of the 3rd period was pretty nervy. The Preds and Flames both played it cautiously, but there were some big stops for both Smith and Rinne to make.

The game went to overtime and both Rinne and Smith were on it again. Rinne robbed at least two shots on the doorstep and Smith stopped Colton Sissons point blank. Then in the shootout, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk scored, while only Forsberg scored for the Preds.

You really hate to see a game like that go to waste. You also hate to see Rinne’s effort blemished by a 3rd period comeback. Peter Laviolette said it best after the game about Rinne’s effort: “He gave us an opportunity to win.”

Need to regroup. Blackhawks are next.

Random Observations

  • Samuel Girard is sitting again and I am not happy.
  • JOFA line looks tremendous right out of the gate.
  • BOOM!! Another Filip Forsberg goal. He is absolutely money right now.
  • He just got his 5th power play goal. He had three all of last year.
  • Great first period, but watch out for falling anvils: /
  • Rinne is playing outstanding so far. He had some help from Josi on one save when he was out of position, but he came back with a dandy of a save a few minutes later. Looking really good on his lateral movements.
  • Oh my goodness, Kevin Fiala just missed a wide open net. He tried to slap it home, but whyyyyyyyy
  • Too many freaking penalties. This is not a strategy that ever works, my dudes.
  • This is only the 20th time in Johansen’s career in Nashville that he’s had at least four shots on goal. Out of 133 games.
  • Starting to turtle. Here comes the turtle. I can see the turtle.
  • Arvidsson took a hard puck to the ankles at the end of a shift. Ouch.
  • Tkachuk scores with about nine minutes to go. This hasn’t been a great 3rd period.
  • God dangit. Ferland scores.
  • This is a terrible third period. Let it be over.
  • My godddddd these overtimes.
  • Shootout: Fiala (too much deke), Monahan (scores), Forsberg (SCORES!), Versteeg (STOPPED), Arvidsson (ughh stopped), Tkachuk (scores)./

OTF Super Duper Stars of the Game

  1. Pekka Rinne: 30 saves and some of the best saves of the season. This point belonged to him.
  2. Filip Forsberg: Continues his strong start to the season, now with seven goals and five assists. He also scored in the shootout.
  3. Colton Sissons: five shots on goal and was all over the offensive zone. He gave a solid effort, just didn’t have enough to get a goal.

Tweets of the Night

KEVIN NOOOOO

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