Nashville Predators 4, Arizona Coyotes 3: A Flair for the Dramatic

Tonight was the Battle of Media Narratives. Marty Erat vs. Filip Forsberg. Mike Ribeiro vs. his old team. Something something Devan Dubnyk. Only the faithful of either team really cared about what was actually happening on the ice, and like most Predators vs. Coyotes games, it did not disappoint.

It looked dire for a minute, after Erat stuck it to Nashville in the third period and put Arizona up by a goal. Of course, he knows not of the power of James Neal, who took a slick pass from Ribeiro to tie it immediately after. Despite a furious finish by the Coyotes at the end of the game, the Predators made it to overtime (again) before prevailing in the shootout. That’s 10 points on the year, without a single regulation loss. Soak it in, ladies and germs.

Random Observations

• For the most part this season, the Predators have played extremely well in their own zone. That went out the window in the first five minutes tonight, with turnover after turnover happening in front of Pekka Rinne. Damage finally happened in the form of a 2-on-1, with Rob Klinkhammer potting the Yotes first goal.

• How good do you think Mike Ribeiro feels? His first game against the team that awkwardly bought him out under some pretty intense circumstances, and he scores a goal. You think he wants to stay in the league a few more years? Also, my goodness gracious, Ryan Ellis. What a gorgeous touch pass back.

• The Predators power play is still awful. Best thing to cure that? Pass the @#$%ing puck to Weber.
• Colin Wilson may have scored a goal just as the power play expired, but as of right now it was credited to Ellis. Almost bailed out the aforementioned abomination that is the extra-man. Either way, the Rocketship is having a fantastic start to the season. He ended the night with three points and the shootout winner. What contract dispute?
• Though Calle Jarnkrok looks pretty good out on the ice (despite not getting results) he didn’t do himself any favors tonight with the snowing of Devan Dubnyk. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received as a result almost immediately resulted in a goal against.
• Oh hai, Martin Erat. Nice to see you give your team the lead. No, no need to apologize. We understand.
• About 20 seconds after Erat’s final act of betrayal, Ribeiro showed up again to make the prettiest pass you ever did see. A fake slapper to no look backhand pass through the legs to set up his bad boy counterpart James Neal. Wowowowowowow.I’m guess that combination is going to happen again.
• OVERTIME: Neal was so close to ending it, so was Jokinen. What about that non-hooking call on Derek Roy? I guess the refs knew the Preds wouldn’t have scored on the ensuing power play anyway. *shrugs*

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

• Mike Ribeiro – A goal and an assist against his old team. They technically payed him to score against them. That’s awesome.
• Ryan Ellis – Because seriously.
• Peter Laviolette’s Tie – Have you seen this thing? It’s glorious.
• Olli Jokinen’s Teeth – They are in a better place now./

They finally won in a shootout! Hooray! Now, before we put our rose colored glasses on, there were plenty of things wrong with this game. The slow start and the horrendous power play the most obvious. However, of the three games this week, this was the one where the Predators needed to walk away with two points. They all count the same on the scoreboard, but they need to do some work to get ready for the epic challenges that await them on Thursday and Saturday.

Tweets of the Game

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

Roll the video highlights…