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Nashville Predators 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2: Power play tallies fuel comeback to kickoff the playoff push

Posted on by Jonathan Garcia

The Nashville Predators started their long, arduous quest to Mordor the postseason by opening up a five-game homestand against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. There was going to be some rust for both teams, since it had been almost three weeks since either had played a game.

It showed. The Preds started out with near Tin Man levels of rust all over them, surrendering the first two goals of the game. Both at the hand of the tiny, yet formidable, Martin St. Louis. As the game dragged on, it looked like it was going to be one of those games where the scoreboard displayed a big fat goose egg on the side of your hometown heroes.

But two quick power play strikes reinvigorated both the team and the Broadway faithful, and the Predators were able to rally to a regulation win. It was an excruciating start, but a fantastic finish.

Random Observations

  • Stick tap to Pete Weber, who was doing his first broadcast since suffering a heart attack earlier in the month. It was good to hear your voice, sir. RIGHT IN FRONT!
  • The power play has kept this team afloat all season. When it seemed like there was no life in the team, the Bolts started being Too Manly, and the Preds went a man up. Thanks to some net crashing from Matt Cullen, Nashville was finally on the board.
  • Then, just over a minute later, Roman Josi tied it up with a shot sweeter than Swiss chocolate. Huge props to Shea Weber on that keep in though. Your gold medalist, ladies and gentlemen.
  • Was it Rich Clune’s “fight” that swayed momentum, or the two power plays? It was definitely the power plays.
  • Patric Hornqvist scored by doing what Patric Hornqvist does best. Getting all up in the grill of the opposing goaltender. That was probably payback for Ben Bishop punching him in the chest earlier in the game.
  • If St. Louis has any ill feelings toward the organizations, he isn’t showing it. Thats part of the reason why I love him I hate him he’s OK. True professional, not worried about what is going on behind the scenes but totally focus on the game.
  • If you missed it, tonight’s game thread was filled with nothing but Ghostbusters and Harold Ramis GIFs. I had my own rust I needed to shake off, but I missed you all.

So it starts. We aren’t going to be picky about how the wins come, so long as they come. Hopefully that game shakes off all the terrible laziness we saw at the beginning and they play more like they did at the end for the rest of the stretch. Saturday’s game is huge, as the Preds play the Winnipeg Jets in one of the proverbial four-point games that are so crucial at this time of the year. See you in the afternoon, OTFers!

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – Fancy Stats

Roll the video highlights…

Talking Points