Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
It was a hungrier team that won on Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd of 17,113 at Bridgestone Arena. A night of playing catch-up to the Kings proved to be the Predators downfall as they could not muster enough defensive effort to shut down the Kings dangling offensive drive.
On a night that saw Nashville get free frostys (first time resulting in a loss this season), it ends with a bittersweet taste when Nashville didn’t get at least one point in the uber-competitive Western Conference.
Special Teams:
Powerplay – 0 for 4, 0%
Penalty Kill – 3 for 3, 100%
Best Play of the Game: Amidst constant crowd encouragement to shoot the puck, Sergei Kostitsyn did just that in mimicking his older brother in the Florida game with a wicked top-shelf wrister to tie the game at 3-3.
Worst Play of the Game: The defensive effort in front of Pekka Rinne all night long (with the exception of Roman Josi).
My Three Stars:
#1: – Patric Hornqvist – 2 goals and a +1 on the night. Sure I may be a bit of a homer on this pick but Hornqvist played like the 30 goal scorer from 2 seasons ago.
#2: – Justin Williams – Very opportune first goal but the second goal was all second chance effort to break through Rinne 12 seconds after the Predators tied the game at 1-1.
#3: – Trevor Lewis – 1 goal, 1 assist 1 SOG and a +2 on the night. Scrappy play paid off for the game-winning goal for Lewis.
*Honorable mention to Roman Josi who played the best in a very disappointing defensive effort.
———————————
Check back daily for news, updates and pre- and post-game information from The Predatorial.
