It’s been an eventful week in Smashville, with the Nashville Predators opening up the home schedule with a 2-1 record, thanks to victories over Minnesota and Islanders, bookending a shutout loss to Toronto. We enjoyed stellar saves, big hits, and career firsts for a pair of Preds rookies.
The task before you, Dear Reader, is to sort through this assemblage of outstanding moments and declare your choice for the OTF Play of the Week!
Tuesday: Filip Forsberg’s First NHL Goal
With the Preds down 1-0 in the first period against Minnesota, a Seth Jones point shot, tipped by Patric Hornqvist on the way in, led to a juicy rebound opportunity for rookie Filip Forsberg, who pounced on it for his first career NHL goal:
Tuesday: Eric Nystrom Penalty Shot Goal
The fans love a good penalty shot, and this was one of the most unusual I’ve ever seen. After Eric Nystrom was hauled down on a breakaway chance, he collided with Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom, who had to leave the game. Backup goalie Josh Harding had to come in without any warmup and defend the penalty shot, which Nystrom roofed nicely to provide the winning goal for the Preds.
Tuesday: Pekka Rinne Save on Zach Parise
It wasn’t all about the goal scorers, as Pekka Rinne protected Nashville’s lead with a ten-bell save on star winger Zach Parise, who is deadly on these backdoor opportunities:
Thursday: Pekka Rinne Save on James van Riemsdyk
With the Predators down 2-0 in the third period against Toronto on Thursday, the team was desperate to stay in the game, and this dynamite save by Peks kept hope alive (for a while, at least):
Saturday: Seth Jones’ First NHL Goal
I sensed a great disturbance in the Force, as if 17,000 voices suddenly cried out in celebration:
Patric Hornqvist Goal on Evgeni Nabokov
Horn Dog is playing like a ball of fire these days, and he’s firing pucks on net from all different spots on the ice. Here, he blasts one by Evgeni Nabokov from above the faceoff circle:
Ryan Ellis Goal on Evgeni Nabokov
Get the puck to the Human Rocket Ship in space, and watch him blast off with a game winner:
So which of these gets your vote? Make your selection and sound off in the comments below…
More from On the Forecheck:
- Sunday’s Dump & Chase: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
- Nashville Predators 3, New York Islanders 2: Seth Jones Scores 1st Career NHL Goal
- Nashville Predators vs New York Islanders Mid-Day Update: Viktor Stalberg Activated from Injured Reserve
- October 2013 Marks 15 Years of NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer™ Campaign
- Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Nashville Predators 0: The Old Familiar Sting/
Which of these is the OTF Play of the Week?
| Filip Forsberg’s 1st NHL Goal | 44 |
| Eric Nystrom’s Penalty Shot Goal | 6 |
| Pekka Rinne Save on Zach Parise | 6 |
| Pekka Rinne Save on James van Riemsdyk | 4 |
| Seth Jones’ 1st NHL Goal | 52 |
| Patric Hornqvist’s Goal | 7 |
| Ryan Ellis’ Game Winning Goal | 32 |