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Nashville Predators 2, Chicago Blackhawks 7: The Curse of Saturday Night

The Nashville Predators took on the Chicago Blackhawks for some Saturday Night Hockey. The last meeting between the two teams ended in what Pekka Rinne referred to as “one of the easier shutouts” he’d been a part of. The Blackhawks looked for some revenge, while the Predators were looking for a win after a bad ending to their road trip.

The first period started off with a lot of action in front of Robin Lehner. However, Chicago was the first to strike, with a goal by Erik Gustafsson off of a faceoff win by Jonathan Toews about seven minutes into the game. The Predators followed this up, once again, with a ton of action in front of Lehner. It seemed inevitable that someone would score soon—the only question was, “who?” Unfortunately, the answer was Dominik Kubalik, who found himself in front of Pekka Rinne and easily potted the goal, putting Chicago up 2-0. The period ended without much further excitement and the Predators headed to locker room to figure things out.

The second period started off with a third Blackhawks goal less than two minutes in. Brent Seabrook took a pass from Patrick Kane (who continued his point streak) and turned it into a nasty backhand that appeared to deflect off of Rinne’s mask and into the goal. After a long stretch of unimpressive play, Pekka Rinne would leave the game after allowing a 4th goal, this one by David Kampf. Juuse Saros took his place as Rinne headed down the tunnel.

For the first time, a penalty was called, with about four and a half minutes left in the second. Unsurprisingly, it was against the Predators, as Mikael Granlund was called for holding. Fortunately, the Predators’ penalty kill unit stepped up and kept Chicago from scoring on the power play.  In the waning seconds of the period, Brandon Saad earned a trip to the penalty box for interference, putting the Predators on the power play for the first time. Despite a great look by Arvidsson as the buzzer sounded, Lehner stood firm and held the Predators scoreless to end the period with Chicago up 4-0.

The third period started with the Predators on the power play. Although they were unable to score on the power play, they scored soon after when Matt Duchene threw the puck toward the net and Roman Josi was there to collect the change and put the rebound in the net, putting the Predators down by three at 4-1. With around eleven minutes to go, Patrick Kane put the Blackhawks up 5-1 as he squeezed the puck between Juuse Saros and the post. It wasn’t much longer before Brandon Saad passed to Jonathan Toews who got it over to Alex Nylander, who popped it into the net, putting Chicago up 6-1. As time dwindled away, Alex Nylander scored his second on the night and put Chicago up 7-1. Soon after, Roman Josi, using some kind of magic, scored a goal and cut the lead to 5 with the Predators down 7-2. That was how the game would end.

Random Observations

  • Blackhawks enter the ice to a very loud “BOO” from the crowd. It isn’t Halloween, but they all looked frightened.
  • Great early stick work by Filip Forsberg getting the Predators to the net early. Would’ve liked to see some of those opportunities turn into goals.
  • Need someone to clean up the trash in front of Lehner.
  • Matt Irwin is under Alex DeBrincat’s skin already.
  • Would really, really like to have that goal back.
  • MAN THAT WAS CLOSE!
  • Grimaldi off the crossbar…so close.
  • So, Gustafsson crosschecks Arvidsson into Lehner…nice.
  • Welp, Lee Greenwood is singing at intermission.
  • Arvidsson was hanging out in front of Robin Lehner for about an hour waiting for someone to pass to.
  • [cursing]
  • Oh, good, perimeter shots…that’ll do it.
  • [more cursing]
  • I was once told if you didn’t have anything nice to say then you shouldn’t say anything.
  • Well, Josi scores…that’s what happens when you have someone in front of the net…imagine that.
  • [typical sailor things]
  • still nothing positive
  • [throws computer]/

Tweets of the Night

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

3. Roman Josi – he scored both goals.

2. Anyone still at Bridgestone Arena for that second Josi goal.

1. Anyone who managed to not turn the TV off.