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Nashville Predators 5, Dallas Stars 4 (OT): Comeback Kids Disappoint Dallas

Posted on by Alex Eichner

Recap

Victor Arvidsson made his long-awaited return to the ice today, and Juuse Saros started in net, giving Pekka Rinne his first day off since coming back from Injured Reserve. The first period’s first ten minutes started extremely uneventfully. I’m not sure there was a whistle. Lots of dumping and chasing, few shots (only two for Dallas). Right around the ten minute mark, during a rush, Dallas dumped a puck out over the glass, giving the Preds a PP. The Predators followed that up with a quick icing, proving they remain dangerous as ever on special teams. Shockingly, they didn’t score.

Forsberg turned a puck over in the Preds’ zone not long after, leading to a Dallas goal as Blake Comeau screened Juuse Saros. He had no chance—and Tyler Pitlick found the back of the net. Another power play for the Preds came about right after giving up the first goal, but Bishop stonewalled them. Bishop did a great job keeping the Preds at zero through the rest of the first period, stopping all 14 shots he faced.

Ryan Hartman kept the third line rolling by scoring 12 seconds into the second period. Who needs JOFA (we do, actually, but Hartman is doing his best to support). Saros kept a couple close chances out of the net in the next few minutes of game time. Jamie Benn decided to hold something other than his stick, which put the Preds on the PP. Third time’s the charm? Nope.

A few minutes later Tyler Seguin put in his first of the game, putting the Stars up 2-1. Another Saros really had no chance on. Freddy Gaudreau got deked out of his jockstrap, which allowed Julius Honka to skate in unimpeded and find a wide open Seguin across the ice.

Tensions grew after that, which culminated in a P.K. Subban penalty which ultimately proved costly. The Stars had a quick chance which missed the net, and pressured throughout. They finally lit the lamp after Saros struggled to clean up a rebound and made it 3-1. The Preds had some minor heat as the second winded down, but were kept out of the net.

Once again, the Predators came out and scored right after the period begins. Johansen and Weber put up big goals within the first two minutes. That catfish really must’ve inspired this squad, which came out of the gate scorching. I love to see fans make the trip and support the Preds on the road.

Four minutes in, Forsberg and Seguin swapped great chances, but both were kept out of the net. A few minutes later, a shot from the blue line redirected to the right side of the net, giving the Stars a 4-3 lead. After a delay of game penalty called on the Stars, Forsberg interfered (according to the zebras), negating a power play.

With the empty net and under a minute left, Ryan Johansen found an open Roman Josi, who scored and tied the game. Mattias Ekholm took a penalty with seconds left in regulation, and, after a Dallas shot on goal, the game went to OT. After surviving some frenzied penalty kill action to start OT, Turris took a long pass from Subban and then beautifully fed Ekholm, who put it in for a Predators road win.

Random Observations

  • With the late game Wednesday, I haven’t seen hockey in a week. Good to be back.
  • Late scratch (like minutes before the game) of Calle Jarnkrok. Hope it’s just some rust on the iron hook.
  • Wow. Five defensemen out for Dallas, including their star Klingberg. Hopefully the Preds make mincemeat out of the Dallas defense, much like the Globo Gym Purple Cobras did against Las Vegas PD.
  • Quick chance for Arvi. Welcome back!
  • Second strong chance also the Preds’. Subban kickstarted it.
  • Dallas wastes a 4-on-2 rush
  • Looking at Saros’ stats… folks, he’s our backup. We’re so blessed.
  • Pressure from the fourth line leads to a Preds PP
  • Before it starts, I’m writing that Turris is going to score a goal on the power play. Optimism!
  • Aaaaaand we ice it on our PP. Typical.
  • Ellis in the slot? Listen, I’ll try anything.
  • Well, I was wrong.
  • “Childish Gambino, one of Willy’s favorites.” Gotta love Cmace.
  • Turnover in our own zone leads to a Dallas goal. Ugh.
  • Dallas penalty on the ensuing face-off. Preds to the PP again.
  • Some great chances on this PP. Fiala had an excellent scoring chance, post-scrum.
  • The worst part about the FS-TN broadcast (which is overall great)? The Fifth Third no fees commercial. I want to rip my eyes out.
  • 12 seconds into the second… Hartman scores. He’s so hot right now.
  • Big save by Saros three minutes into the second.
  • Does Salomaki do anything well? You just never hear his name called.
  • Jamie Benn holds -> Preds PP
  • Preds didn’t score. In other news, water is wet.
  • Blurgh. Seguin scores on some nifty passing for Honka. 2-1 Stars.
  • Halfway through the game, 2-1 Stars, but 19-7 Preds in shots.
  • A minor donnybrook is followed by a Subban tripping call. First time for the Preds on the penalty kill.
  • Bonino had a shorthanded look, couldn’t quite cash in.
  • Why do the Predators have better scoring chances on the penalty kill than the power play?
  • 3-1 Stars. Saros was tangled up after letting up a solid rebound. Easy goal for Jason Spezza.
  • First mention of the JOFA line by the broadcasters, with three minutes left in the second. Not good.
  • Preds disappear on defense, leaving Saros to make a nice save on a near point blank shot.
  • Catfish on the ice
  • Paul Gaustad jerseys in the stands. Wow.
  • Ryan Johansen scores right away! Preds make it 3-2.
  • Weber! 3-3!
  • No review? We’ll take it. High up in the slot so no real way to tell if the stick was too high.
  • Forsberg stopped on a clean breakaway. You get a feeling like if that had went in it was GG for the Stars.
  • HUGE save by Saros on an odd man rush.
  • Tip in from the high slot goes in for the Stars. 4-3. Saros, once again, had no chance.
  • Dallas delay of game. Can the Preds score on their fourth pp?
  • Smart play by Forsberg taking a penalty to eliminate the 5-on-4.
  • The spark has been lacking from this Preds team since going down 4-3.
  • Net is empty for the Preds.
  • Preds on the PP. Arvi done got slashed. And he done got hurt – headed to the locker room.
  • Josi scores! 4-4 with 42 seconds left! LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOO.
  • A very late penalty called on Mattias Ekholm. Sounds like the Stars bench called it. 13 seconds left.
  • OT.
  • 1:40 left on the penalty kill.
  • Some huge saves by Saros here.
  • Spectacular finish – Ekholm scores! 5-4 win in OT!/

Super Duper Stars of the Game

  1. These guys. They brought out the instruments of crime and rallied a floundering Preds team in the third. Some heroes don’t wear capes. Apparently, they wear Paul Gaustad jerseys.

2. Mattias Ekholm – game-winning goal pays Dallas back after Spezza took a soft penalty

3. Roman Josi – game-tying goal off a beautiful feed from Ryan Johansen was at a tough angle. The Captain went and captained.

Tweets of the Game

Talking Points