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Nashville Predators 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1: Flying By Philly

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

On paper, this looked like a decent matchup for the Nashville Predators. Philadelphia struggles on defense, Ray Emery is in net, and their offense goes mostly through two guys: Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. One of those guys scored tonight, but the Predators scored thrice more.

The Predators got goals from Filip Forsberg, Mike Fisher, and Colin Wilson twice in a 4-1 win over the Flyers. Claude Giroux was the lone Flyers scorer. The Predators out-shot the Flyers 38-26.

Probably for the first time this year, the difference in the game for the Predators was on special teams. An excellent penalty kill combined with THREE POWER-PLAY GOALS led to the win and an important mid-holiday two points in the standings.

Random Observations

  • In the first 10 minutes, Nashville was putting all kinds of pressure on Philly. Counter attacks, great passing, and fore-checking led to the initial power-play for the Predators. Filip Forsberg, who has been due, gets the first goal of the game thanks to a surprisingly crisp power-play and a nice screen from Mike Fisher.
  • For the most part, the Preds dominated the 1st period. We took too many penalties, but the penalty-kill was up for it. The Philly defense seems ripe… time to go goal picking!
  • “Yeah, it’s much easier for me to shoot the puck, yeah” -Filip Forsberg, I assume comparing his shooting ability to the rest of the team’s.
  • Important 5v3 kill to start the 2nd Period. With the weapons that the Flyers have, no need to give them any easy ones.
  • Pekka Rinne willed the puck into his glove off the stick of Chris Vandevelde. Willed it.
  • On the other end of the ice, I’m not real sure what Ray Emery has been doing all night. Every puck that comes in seems to be the first puck he has ever seen in his life.
  • Claude Giroux: not the man you want to see skating in on your goalie on an odd man rush. He makes the Preds pay. His sick shot over Rinne’s shoulder ties the game.
  • FIVE ON THREE POWER-PLAY GOAL! Although with Emery in net, it’s more like a 5 on 2. Mike Fisher battling away in front after the initial shot by Forsberg. Preds take the lead!
  • And then Colin Wilson follows with another! Also on the power-play…. he just got it under the cross-bar behind Emery. 3-1 Preds! I don’t wanna say a trend is starting, but… a trend seems to be starting.
  • A 3-1 lead is nice going into the 3rd, but the Preds can’t sleep on this Flyers team. They can score in a hurry.
  • The Predators seem content to turtle-shell this 3rd period and get out of here with a win. Pekka and the defense might be all we need. Offense is more of a suggestion at this point.
  • Colin Wilson gets a breakaway empty netter to cement the win. Willy with his 2nd!
  • The Flyers going quietly? Nay. They had to pick a fight first. This one will end with fists, pushing, penalties, bruising, and two points for the home team.

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Filip Forsberg: 1g, 1a, and only 6 “yeahs” during the 1st intermission interview. Progress!
  • Mike Fisher: flat out DID WORK in front of the net tonight.
  • JP Dumont: excellent highlight companion to Mark Howard. He made faces like this: /

Tweets Of The Game

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick

Roll the video highlights…


Talking Points