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Detroit Red Wings 5, Nashville Predators 4 (OT): Weber’s Hat-Trick Not Enough

The Predators lost a 2 goal lead in the 3rd period and spoil a Shea Weber hat-trick in an OT loss to the Red Wings.

The Red Wings started the scoring with an unlucky bounce off of the skate of Shea Weber. Brad Richards got credit for the goal, but it was really just a crazy deflection that favored the Red Wings. Weber would get the goal back in the 2nd period, though. The Captain ripped a much needed power-play goal by Petr Mrazek and Viktor Arvidsson would put the Preds up 2-1 a few minutes later. The Preds were buzzing, fueled by the adrenaline of actually getting pucks in the net.

Later in the 2nd, the Preds got a goal via video replay, as Weber’s rebounded shot did in fact cross the goal line, giving the Preds a 3-1 lead. Tomas Tatar answered quickly, restoring the one goal lead for the Preds with a power-play goal of his own.

Shea Weber would end up with the first hat-trick by a defenseman in franchise history when he bombed yet another power-play goal by Mrazek in the 3rd period. Dylan Larkin made it 4-3, which cued the all too familiar Preds turtle shell for the final 10 minutes of regulation. It didn’t work (does it ever?) and Justin Abdelkader tied the game late in the 3rd.

In OT, Gustav Nyquist won it for the Red Wings, as he skated in unimpeded on Rinne and slotted it home. That is one tough, tough point for the Predators.

Random Observations

  • Best chance so far came from Filip Forsberg, who found himself wide open in front of Mrazek. He got stopped on the backhand on a great save by Mrazek, but the power-play overall looked a bit better than usual. Interesting combinations out there. We will see how that changes going into the next few games.
  • Extremely unfortunate bounce there. Preds had everything played well on the 2nd PK and then a puck finds Weber’s skate and goes in. These are things that just… keep… happening. The Preds control the 1st period, out-shoot the Red Wings 13-6, out-chance the Red Wings 9-7, and still find themselves down 1-0. There is no explanation other than GAHHHHHHHH.
  • But then SHEA WEBER SHOOTS WITH THE FURY OF A THOUSAND CORSI EVENTS
  • And now Viktor Arvidsson with the brilliant deflection of an Ellis shot and the Preds lead! The boys have some life in their skates right now. All lines are providing great pressure and the Wings seem a bit rattled.
  • Crazy play late in the 2nd: the Preds get their 3rd goal after a shot by Weber misses the net, rebounds off the back-board, deflects up and over Mrazek, and goes just over the red-line. Play continued for about a minute or so as the Preds had possession on the power-play, but Toronto buzzes the horn and gives the Preds the goal. 3-1 now. This is fun.
  • But now Tatar deflects in a shot by Green on the power-play and quickly makes it 3-2. A long way to go in this one. A really nice deflection by Tatar, who gets his 10th goal of the year.
  • The Preds are starting to give away possession to the Red Wings in the second half of this game. Since the Tatar goal, the Red Wings are getting the majority of the attempts. Preds have barely entered the offensive zone in the 3rd period. Hopefully the defense and Rinne can be stout during the home stretch.
  • A third for the captain! Shea Weber’s hat-trick is the first hat-trick by a defensemen in Predators history. Weber has been on fire tonight. 4-2 Preds!
  • Wow, Dylan Larkin with a great play to beat Rinne. His 11th of the year leads the Red Wings. Annnnd it’s 4-3 now.
  • Wings tie the game. Given how most of the 3rd period went, I’m surprised they didn’t score 3 or 4 times. Preds with their heads in the sand right now.
  • Too many chances not finished in the OT. Nyquist buries his chance and the Wings win it.

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Shea Weber: 3 huge, power-play goals. Say what you will about his contract, the man is a solid, reliable foundation for this team almost every night. Tonight he was even better than that. Carried the team. Too bad the team couldn’t hold on to the win.
  • Roman Josi: the other half of the top D pairing was great tonight too… his passing and position was just perfect. He always makes good decisions out there. 2 assists on the night.
  • Viktor Arvidsson: Didn’t play much a role late in the game, but early on he was providing great pressure. Excellent hand-eye coordination on the goal.

Tweets of the Night

BoxscoreGame SummaryEvent SummaryWar-on-IceHockeyStatsNatural Stat Trick

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