And they were. It was another stellar entry into Cam Fowler’s burgeoning scrapbook, and Manson played excellently, save for his icing infraction that preceded Forsberg’s tying goal. The goal was set up by Nashville’s inability to convert a breakout pass from behind its net. Three of the four games in this series have been decided by one goal. “They’re terrific goalies and we’re fortunate that we have these guys as part of our team”. Forsberg, who started Nashville’s comeback win in Game 3, ensured overtime crashing the net with two teammates and smashing the puck across the line. In Game 2 against the Ducks (a 5-3 loss), he broke a 2-2 tie and steadied things briefly after Nashville had blown a two-goal lead. To his credit, Gibson was excellent, with 38 saves for the Ducks. “And then we weren’t allowed to execute at the level that we have been accustomed to”. Instead, Anaheim ramped up the physicality and played keep-away. If you’re inclined to pooh-pooh the idea of Nashville as a potential hockey town, ask yourself what you’re really hoping to prove-and what would be so bad about non-traditional markets becoming traditional ones?
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“They caught a lucky bounce tonight on the redirect that ended up being a difference maker”, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re up or down you always want to help the team”. P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis do so now.
The stakes listed above are well known by all of the Ducks players. Unlike the Senators, they are not trying to lull their opponent into sleep mode and then attack. That will likely be determined right before puck-drop. Realizing that players were too exhausted to summon and sustain the emotions and energy required to win Game 3 on Tuesday, he gave them a day off on Wednesday. That’ll be easier said than done, however, as no team in the playoffs has been able to crack the Rinne code to this point.
The Ducks and Predators failed to score on power plays, a lackluster period for the Predators.
“It’s nice to pop a water bottle, but my goal is to just get shots through traffic, and you don’t even have to shoot it as hard to get tips”, said Subban. This is the time to go for Pittsburgh’s metaphorical throat and see what happens. It’s rarely pretty, but it works for them. They obviously feel like they have the players and the speed to do that.
It’s effective, but it’s not infallible.
This section is largely superfluous because, let’s face it, you’re going to watch this game.
Anaheim had led 1-0 through 40 minutes but lost for the first time in the postseason when defending a lead in the third period. “I thought we were the better team”. So maybe the old-timer will come in handy again – if he can stay up late enough when we get back to the Pacific time zone.
For now, don’t expect the Predators to slow down.
Painted on the team’s dressing room door is a blue bulldog who has become the team’s unofficial mascot or spirit animal.
Public enemy number one is on the other end of the ice.
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Nashville also had two more goal shots waved off in one eight-second spell, both denied by goaltender interference.
