Photo Credit: John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images
Tied 1-1 going into the third period, Nashville’s RED HOT powerplay (yes, folks, you read that right) struck again, and this time from Colin Wilson. Collecting a rebound from a Craig Smith shot, Wilson blasted it past Kiprusoff to give the Predators a 2-1 lead and that would be the final.
Nashville has now won 3 straight to get them back into the thick of the Western Conference. With this win, they are now in sole position of 7th place, 3 points behind idle St. Louis (who the Predators meet on Saturday), 5 points behind Detroit (who the Predators meet on Thursday), and 6 points behind Chicago.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Special Teams:
Powerplay – 1 for 3, 33%
Penalty Kill – 1 for 1, 100%
Best Play of the Game: Colin Wilson gets a rebound from a Craig Smith shot and rifles it past Miikka Kiprusoff to give the Predators a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Worst Play of the Game: Curtis Glencross streaks in through the left side, makes a fancy move, and roofs it RIGHT under the crossbar to tie the game 1-1 at 6:12 of the second period.
My Three Stars:
#1: - Pekka Rinne – 35 saves on 36 shots. He faced less shots than Kiprusoff, but made the saves to keep the Predators in the game and in the lead, plus killing off the final two minutes of the game in a crazy flurry from the Flames.
#2: – Miikka Kiprusoff – 43 saves on 45 shots. Amazing game in goal for Kiprusoff, just gave up one goal too many. However, any goalie that faces 45 shots against a Predators team that averages less than 30 and only gives up 2? Amazing.
#3: – Colin Wilson – 1 goal, -1 on the night. Wilson’s powerplay goal was the decisive one tonight as he gave the Predators a 2-1 lead 3:31 into the third
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Stay tuned to The Predatorial Thursday morning for the gameday preview of the Red Wings game!
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Stay frosty, friends.
First period was the best period played by the Preds so far this year (IMO). They were moving the puck so well. They were getting open and making passes on the tape. Rinne played better than we’ve seen since the start of his recent losing streak. Kipper robbed Legwand and Erat in the first. Rinne made some great saves as well. Glencross never should’ve been let in that close in the first place. Even prior to the shot, it was a very close call on the off sides. To the naked eye it totally looked off since the puck was on the blue line while the skater left of Glencross had one skate over and the other mostly over the blueline. If it was actually on side, great job by the ref! The replay was inconclusive, but when the puck carrier is behind the blue line and the skater is ahead of it, my instinct would tell me to blow the whistle immediately. Still saw a lot of moments where Preds looked idle carrying the puck into the zone like they didn’t know what to do next. So, they passed it off. Move your feet! Make that defenseman work! Sometimes, you’ll get by him. Watch closely and you’ll see this is not the nature of Smith and Wilson. They keep skating with the puck and going to the net. Fisher, Erat, Legwand, Kostitsyn, and others look so hesitant. Does Hornqvist ever carry in or does he just go to the next and park there (mostly)?