Pekka Slams The Door Shut On The Blackhawks: Preds Win 2 - 0.

Who would guessed Jerred Smithson would've scored in back-to-back games at the beginning of the year?  And short-handed at that? 

Who, indeed!  As long as any of our boys are scoring, who cares?!

It's nice to be able to type this: The Nashville Predators shut out the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation, serving them their first regulation loss this season, 2 - 0.  A loss is best served...to any team that's not ours, but even better when it's a division rival.

What to type about!  The 17 blocked shots - throwing the body in front of the puck to actually help our goalie?  The actual forechecking?  Another power play goal...in the same week?  The return of the "sharp as a tack" Ward as a producing entity or perhaps the "seemingly always lurking around to lend a helping hand on any and every shift" Bouillon?  The subtle spark of energy that Legwand showed the crowd or the possibility that it was merely caused by the fact that Erat was scratched cos it's become obvious he's a worthless poof?  The fact that the team is producing more without Arnott as well?  The chances that Hornqvist is creating all over the place?  Or perhaps just the "head-standing" antics of one Pekka Rinne?  I'm sure we'll all be talking about all this and more tomorrow morning!

A very strong showing by the Preds tonight.  I can't wait to see this team play again.  Perhaps the secret is and always has been to just cut the fat and play a tight, dedicated game.

Simplicity is great like that.  Let's do this.

Cheers.

A Wild Ride: Preds Win 4-3 in St. Paul

The Preds come back once again after blowing a 2-goal lead to defeat the also-struggling Minnesota Wild, 4-3 in regulation. 


Trotz juggled Legwand's line and it ended up...well...kinda making sense.  Scatchard, Wilson and Hornqvist worked very well together (I hope to see them together again tomorrow).  Dan Ellis played a great first period and blew it in 3 minutes in the 2nd - kinda like a reenactment of his career with the Preds on fast-forward.  Rinne came in this time and stood his height (see "tall"). Santorelli gets his in the 2nd to tie the game up. Goc had a nice breakaway to no avail.  Smithson scored the game-winning goal...on the POWER PLAY, while the names you normally expect (Weber, Dumont) started the game off before it all became uncertain...just like in Ottawa.  Thankfully it all took place in regulation!


Excuse my negative tone - I'm very much glad that we won this game...BUT...(cos there always is one of those) we essentially beat a team much like ourselves, plagued with weaknesses.  I can kick the shit out of a Pekingese, but if I'm only a handicapped Platypus, is that a strength or a bit of luck?  Also, I learned my work schedule changes to evenings next week so I'll be missing many games and I'll have to sell some of my tix in 303 - contact me next week if you're interested seepuckcity@gmail.com. Grr.


The losing of leads needs to stop.  Since O is our weakness, you'd think once we get a bit of it, we'd buckle down and play it like New Jersey.  We've finally got some chemistry going on with the lines...we'll see how they hold up - hopefully for the better so my fairly recent Trotz-dismissal will be proven wrong.


We've got the Blackhawks tomorrow night.  Let's do what we did right tonight tomorrow night and see how that fares against a faster, stronger Chicago.  I want to see these plans work!  I want to see this team go forward with their own identity!


And I KNOW I'm not alone in wanting this.


Cheers.


PS. No humorous hotlinks tonight - tired as all get out due to the new day job and I wake earlier than normal in the AM.  Off to the Land of Nod.