The Preds started this game drastically better than that Toronto debacle. The first period was entertaining, with both teams pushing the pace. Despite the back-and-forth battles nobody was able to poke any pucks in. Both Pekka Rinne and Alex Stalock were solid in the first period.
The first 17:20 of the second period were straight up yawn inspiring. Then following a Wild timeout – and by that I mean a timeout by Minnesoata, not anything crazy – Filip Forsberg buries one past Stalock for a 1-0 lead. For those of you keeping score at home, that is his 31st goal of the year. Then, literally 10 seconds later, Kevin Fiala slides one past Stalock and suddenly the fans at Bridgestone Arena are awake.
The Wild come out fighting, they know they need these points almost as bad as the Preds. Austin Watson just throttled Ryan White along the boards (legally). Empty net for the Wild and P.K. Subban slams the door on this game. Now the Preds and Blues will meet on Sunday with sole possession of third place in the Central on the line.
Random Observations
- James Neal is out with an upper-body injury and P.A. Parenteau has been scratched
- No Devan Dubnyk in net. The Wild’s postseason fate, at least for today, rests with Alex Stalock
- Hey Victor Bartley is still around!
- This first period has been fast and fun. Truly feels like a playoff game
- Second period not so much…
- No Cody McLeod fight yet. Why is he even in the lineup then?
- Alex Stalock looks like a top five goalie
- Calle Jarnkrok should easily have had four goals in this game
- Forsberg #31! Take a long hard look Vegas fans, your GM traded that guy for Martin Erat…
- Fiala finally scores! He’s been right on the door step all day
- Nashville needs to convince Vegas to not take Jarnkrok. He is vastly underrated and is really coming on strong as a two-way forward
- P.K. goal! We haven’t seen enough of those this year /
OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Night
- Pekka Rinne – a 31 save shutout. He has been lights out lately. Just what they need right now.
- Kevin Fiala – I’m telling ya’ll, next year he’s going to put up numbers similar to what Arvi did this year
- Filip Forsberg – the first player in team history with 30-goal seasons, back-to-back nonetheless.
Tweets of the Night
I’m gonna need y’all to #kickthedustup on this backup goalie of the backup goalie.Dude’s played ONE game & won. Just ONE. 😑 #MINvsNSH #preds
— Rebecca Serafin (@Skrebecca) April 1, 2017
KEVIN!!! #preds pic.twitter.com/kSYhj3iVXw
— Dillow (@Pillow4Dillow) April 1, 2017
The Predators have 12 players with at least 10 goals this season, which sets a franchise record.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) April 1, 2017
Game Recap: pic.twitter.com/zh9TzWVszH
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) April 1, 2017