The Nashville Predators followed up on Friday’s 5-0 result at Winnipeg by losing by the same margin again tonight at New Jersey. For the Devils, it turned out to be quite the party, as Jaromir Jagr recorded his 1,700th NHL point, and Martin Brodeur earned his 123rd shutout.
Rest assured, there was plenty of blame to go around tonight for the Preds; there were soft goals given up by Carter Hutton, appalling play in the defensive zone, and a pop-gun offensive attack that mustered only 10 shots over the first two periods, by which time they were already down 3-0 on the scoreboard.
After starting this road trip with promising efforts at Phoenix, Los Angeles and Colorado, the Preds have played two absolutely dreadful games in a row. Tuesday on Long Island, they’ll have a chance to turn things around against John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and the rest of the New York Islanders.
For the perspective on this game from the victorious side, make sure to check out In Lou We Trust.
Random Observations
- How interesting is it that the Preds issued an update about Pekka Rinne’s recovery just moments after Hutton gave up a soft goal to open the game?
- For being a savvy veteran center, Matt Cullen made a hideous pass which led to that second New Jersey goal. If Scott Stevens was still on the Devils blueline then Gabriel Bourque would have been plowed while looking back for that soft pass up the middle, but instead Jersey jumped onto the counterattack and outnumbered Nashville on the drive to the net.
- Cheers to Matt Hendricks, who looked to be seriously hurt by a skate during a collision at the Preds’ bench, but he was able to return to play.
- The Predators now join Buffalo and New Jersey in being shut out 4 times this season, tops in the league.
Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – Fancy Stats
Roll the video highlights (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED)…
More from On the Forecheck:
- Pekka Rinne Injury: Team Provides Update on Infection Recovery
- Hockey Hall of Fame: Which Nashville Predators Player Will Make It Someday?
- Sunday’s Dump & Chase: Treading Water
- Emery, Holtby, and the Code: Reflecting on the NHL’s Behavioral Incentives
- Peter Horachek Hired as Florida Panthers Head Coach/
Who is your Predator of the Game?
| Marek Zidlicky | 85 |