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Nashville Predators 4, Winnipeg Jets 6: Tanev’s Late Goal Steals Two Points In Nashville

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

The Predators fell to the Jets 6-4 tonight, despite scoring four goals and looking like an offensive machine for much of the night. The Jets scored a late goal in regulation to steal the two points. Pekka Rinne didn’t play great, and his worst goal allowed (of the year?) was the most important one.

A slow start led to an early Jets advantage. Following a turnover, Tyler Myers fired a shot on Rinne that was deflected and left right on the doorstep for Adam Lowry. Lowry put it home to put the Jets up 1-0. The Preds’ slow start would continue up until the final minute of the period, when back-to-back goals by Calle Jarnkrok and Kevin Fiala made it a 2-1 game going into the first intermission.

For such a lousy start, having a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes isn’t bad, no? It was a strange, but welcomed, ending to the first frame.

Early in the 2nd period, both teams had some great chances to score. Colton Sissons was wide open in front of the Winnipeg net, but Hellebuyck stopped him. Then Pekka Rinne stopped a Jets’ chance while down in the blue ice, with a little help from P.K. Subban.

Then the goals started coming. First, Patrik Laine danced around Emelin and roofed one past Rinne to tie it up. A minute later, P.K. Subban scored on the power play to give the Preds the lead 3-2. But it was quickly answered by Nikolaj Ehlers, who was camped in front of Rinne and pounded home a rebound to tie it up again. A little bit later, Ehlers scored again on the power play to give the Jets the lead.

The Jets took that lead into the 3rd period, where it didn’t last long. Yannick Weber (yep!) slapped home a goal from the right circle to tie up the game. The goal came just after Craig Smith missed a wide open net.

The rest of the 3rd period was full of wild, crazy action. First, Alexei Emelin nearly scored from the blueline, with the puck just barely careening off the underside of the crossbar. A bit later, Austin Watson was called for embellishment (which he definitely did) just after getting tripped. That led to some 4-on-4 play, which then led to a 4-on-3 for the Jets, which led to a couple of chances for the Jets.

The game seemed headed for overtime, but then Brandon Tanev scored to make it 5-4 with 1:26 remaining. It was a pretty awful goal for Rinne to give up. It looked like he thought Tanev was going to peel off behind the goal, so he stood up too early, leaving the five-hole wide open.

With the net empty, the Preds couldn’t get much of anything on net, which led to a long empty net goal for the Jets and the 6-4 final score.

There were a lot of penalties in this one, which is becoming somewhat of a thing between Preds and Jets. If these two teams meet in the playoffs, it could be a hell of a show.

For now, you just hope Rinne bounces back from a bad start (not all the goals were his fault, but like I said, the most important one was) and the Preds get back to their winning ways on Thursday.

Random Observations

  • Craig Smith’s early penalty doesn’t result in a goal, but it does disrupt the start of the game for the Preds. They’ve managed four shots on net in the first eight minutes, but none have been that dangerous. Kevin Fiala had a chance in the slot, but missed the net on the far side.
  • Early on, the Jets look like the aggressor. They are being very decisive in the offensive zone, leading to more chances and, eventually, an early goal.
  • This 1st period is a dud. Can we start over?
  • Wait a minute!! Jarnkrok on the board, what a weird goal. Tie game!
  • WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE!! Fiala roofs one from the slot to give the Preds a 2-1 lead! Insanity to end the period.
  • Oh my goodness. Kyle Turris made a series of plays at the blue line that were just amazing. It led to an unreal pass to Sissons in the slot, who was robbed by Hellebuyck. Turris’ vision is just incredible.
  • Wow, Laine just did that.
  • SUBBAN!! What a rocket from the point. Also a great play by Forsberg to set it up.
  • This game has too many goals.
  • And too many Preds penalties.
  • The 4th line (Sissons, Hartnell, Aberg) hasn’t been great. Give it time, maybe.
  • Emelin almost scored, just after Yber did score. Huh.
  • Connor Hellebuyck was out of position and the Preds had the puck, but his helmet “came off” after a good shake. Play whistled dead.
  • Turris line = amazing, almost every single shift
  • It is great to see Forsberg and Arvidsson back together.
  • Joey is so, so good at finding guys in the open ice while in the corners.
  • Uh. Wow. That’s a horrible goal to give up with 90 seconds left. /

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  1. Kevin Fiala: Great goal to finish the 1st period and used his speed well.
  2. Mattias Ekholm: +9 Corsi to lead all Preds defensemen
  3. JOFA: they were all over the offensive zone, generating a ton of chances. Just needed one more of those to go in.

Tweets of the Night

Game Extras

Talking Points