SB Nation - Joel Ward

Game 31: Jackets take on the Preds in Nashville

Mike MacLean — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:01:17 -0000

by Jay LaPrete - AP

This is a good day. I just had a fantastic day at work, the Jackets are coming off a huge win last night, where they looked like the team they should be. Mase was stellar, let's see if Garon can turn his game around tonight against those damned Predators. The Preds definitely have the Jackets number, especially in Nashville. I look for a typical Jackets/Preds game tonight, one with tight checking, maybe a scrap or two (if our guys have the green light to do so) and some timely goals. A score of 1-0 or 2-1 could happen.

The Preds are one of those teams that always gets it done, no matter who is on the ice. I credit GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz for that. I would love for the kind of long-term consistency from Howson and Hitch that those two gentleman have supplied. Pekka Rinne is the straw that stirs the drink in Nashville. In my opinion he is the future of Finnish goaltending. Backstrom and Kipper are the top dogs now, but Rinne will be a great goaltender for a long time. Add to that a fun rivalry with Steve Mason, and we could be seeing a genuine goaltending battle year-in and year-out between these clubs.

The Jackets aren't making any major lineup changes with the exception of Garon getting the start. The line of Chimmer, Umby and Jake looked dangerous on almost every shift last night, and I look for them to continue that tonight. One guy who really needs to step it up is Rick Nash. Even last night, to me he was the guy who looked the worst. He was committing turnovers, and I think he is really pressing. Seemingly every time he had the puck in the offensive zone he was going with the slapper, very unlike the Captain. I would like to see he and Brass play together for a bit to see if that will spark him. Vermmy doesn't seem to be the right fit for Nasher.

Fearless Prediction: The run of bad play in Nashville has to end sometime right? Jackets win, Chimmer continues his hot streak.

Game Time: 8:00pm ET

Opponent's Blog: On the Forecheck

Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Predators coverage

TSN Preview: Blue Jackets vs Predators Preview

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Gaylord Entertainment Center. Sommet Center. Nashville Arena. Doesn't matter what it's named, it's a house of horrors for the Blue Jackets, who are 0-10-2 in Nashville since April 3, 2006. The Jackets blew leads of 1-0 and 2-1 and lost 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 21 in Nashville.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Kristian Huselius	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
Jason Chimera	R.J. Umberger	Jakub Voracek
Andrew Murray	Samuel Pahlsson	Jared Boll
Raffi Torres	Derick Brassard	Derek Dorsett

Fedor Tyutin	Anton Stralman
Mike Commodore	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Marc Methot

Mathieu Garon

Steve Mason

EXTRA: Mike Blunden, Mathieu Roy, Derek MacKenzie

INJURED: Fredrik Modin, Rostislav Klesla

Nashville Predators

Steve Sullivan	Jason Arnott	Martin Erat
Jerred Smithson	David Legwand	Joel Ward
Jordin Tootoo	Marcel Goc	J.P. Dumont
Ryan Jones	Cal O'Reilly	Patric Hornqvist

Shea Weber	Ryan Suter
Francis Bouillon	Alexander Sulzer
Kevin Klein	Dan Hamhuis

Pekka Rinne

Dan Ellis

Nashville Predators pull away in the 3rd, beat Chicago 4-1

Dirk Hoag — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:33:01 -0000

More photos » by Charles Cherney - AP

6 days ago: Nashville Predators' Jordin Tootoo, center, celebrates after he scores the Predators' third goal late in the game as the Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in an NHL hockey game, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)

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Late goals by Jordin Tootoo and Joel Ward sealed the victory tonight for the Nashville Predators as they won in Chicago tonight, 4-1. Dan Ellis made 34 saves for his second strong effort in a row, on a night when 9 different Preds hit the scoresheet.

You can click above for the photo gallery, and after the jump we've got video highlights, the recap, and advanced even-strength statistics...

Early on, it appeared that the Preds would be doing well just to hang around in this game. Jonathan Toews put on a clinic giving the Blackhawks the 1-0 lead, deking through Dan Hamhuis for the score. Hamhuis earned his redemption just minutes later, however, firing a puck that came up the boards past Cristobal Huet to even the game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission. Chicago carried most of the play, however, with a Shots on Goal advantage of 15-6 after the first period.

In the second, the Preds established good pressure early on, despite losing Kevin Klein for a time after he took an awkward tumble into the endboards. As part of several strong shifts by the line of Martin Erat, Marcel Goc and Jordin Tootoo, Toots gathered in a loose puck and fired it towards the front of the net, where it deflected off Erat's skate for the goal (which stood after a brief video review). The Blackhawks poured it on from there, constantly backing the Nashville defense in and getting several good chances which Dan Ellis turned aside.

In the third, that momentum was still largely in Chicago's favor as the Preds kept backing in and defending the core of their zone, trying to keep the Blackhawks to the outside. Ellis made several excellent stops while not allowing any rebound opportunities, something he's been prone to in the past.

On a rare rush the other way in the final minutes, Tootoo scored just his second goal of the season, blasting a shot by Huet, who looked shaky when the Preds did get their chances. Preds fans didn't even have much time to breathe a sigh of relief, however, as Joel Ward banged home a pass from David Legwand just 35 seconds later to push the lead to 4-1, and a surprising runaway victory for Nashville.

Team discipline once again played a critical role; despite playing a division rival and having to deal with speedy, skilled players buzzing around the offensive zone, the Predators only had to kill off one penalty all night, which they did successfully.

Hamhuis, Erat and Tootoo all ended the night with a goal and an assist each, with six other players nabbing a point including Cal O'Reilly getting his first assist of the season on the Hamhuis goal.

Looking at the even-strength stats, it's no surprise to see lots of negative numbers; Chicago is an excellent skating team that tips the shot totals heavily in their favor on a consistent basis (tonight the shots were 35-23 for the Hawks). What jumps out to me is the performance of that Tootoo-Goc-Erat line, which clearly had a great night.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Jason Arnott	C	14:52	2	0	0	0	5	8	-3	9	14	-5
Steve Sullivan	L	14:22	0	0	0	0	4	8	-4	7	13	-6
J P Dumont	R	13:26	0	0	0	1	1	7	-6	3	12	-9
David Legwand	C	16:21	1	0	0	0	4	11	-7	7	14	-7
Jerred Smithson	R	16:34	1	1	0	0	4	9	-5	7	14	-7
Joel Ward	R	16:40	1	0	1	0	5	10	-5	8	14	-6
Marcel Goc	C	14:11	2	1	0	2	10	8	2	12	15	-3
Martin Erat	R	14:06	1	2	0	0	13	10	3	17	16	1
Jordin Tootoo	R	14:01	4	0	1	0	11	8	3	13	15	-2
Cal O'Reilly	C	8:49	0	0	0	0	2	4	-2	4	7	-3
Patric Hornqvist	R	8:24	2	0	0	0	4	2	2	6	5	1
Ryan Jones	L	7:42	0	0	0	1	2	4	-2	4	7	-3
Shea Weber	D	19:37	0	1	0	2	10	11	-1	14	20	-6
Ryan Suter	D	23:02	2	0	1	1	11	12	-1	15	22	-7
Kevin Klein	D	17:19	0	0	1	2	4	12	-8	9	18	-9
Francis Bouillon	D	18:22	0	1	0	0	1	12	-11	6	18	-12
Dan Hamhuis	D	17:46	1	0	0	1	10	11	-1	12	16	-4
Cody Franson	D	12:26	0	0	1	0	6	6	0	8	8	0

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Dan Ellis, 34 saves

44 votes

Martin Erat, GWG goal, 1 assist

7 votes

Jordin Tootoo, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 Shots on Goal

18 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

Predators get back to their winning ways in 4-1 victory over Florida

Dirk Hoag — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:03:23 -0000

More photos » by Kate Humphrey - AP

12 days ago: Nashville Predators players congratulate Dan Hamhuis after Hamhuis scored a goal against the Florida Panthers in the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Nashville, Tenn. From left are Jerred Smithson, Marcel Goc, of Germany, Jordin Tootoo, Hamhuis and Kevin Klein. (AP Photo/Kate Humphrey)

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Dan Hamhuis led all scorers with his first goal of the season along with an assist as the Nashville Predators beat the Florida Panthers in front of 14,120 tonight at the Sommet Center Smashville Arena. Wearing their new 3rd jerseys, the Preds struggled through the first two periods tied 1-1 before finally pulling away in the third in a penalty-filled affair for both teams.

After the jump we've got the video highlights, recap, and advanced even-strength statistics...

This was a fun one to enjoy, not just due to the play on the ice, but because I brought my father-in-law to the game. Since he lives in Indiana he doesn't catch NHL action often. In fact, he told me the last live game he saw pitted the Boston Bruins against the St. Louis Blues... back in 1971! As Buddy Oakes observed during the first intermission, the look of the game (especially in terms of advertisements on the boards and ice) sure has changed since those days...

On the ice, the Predators got off to a sluggish start; three power play opportunities came and went with lackluster results, and the crowd started getting restless, anticipating the worst after last night's loss to St. Louis. Late in the period, however, a point shot from Hamhuis with traffic in front from Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson got through Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen to put Nashville up 1-0 heading into the 1st intermission.

The second period saw a steady stream into the penalty box, as Jordin Tootoo squared off for a short fight with Kenndal McArdle immediately after the opening faceoff. Besides three other minor penalties to the Predators during that period (all successfully killed off, by what is looking once again like a typically strong Nashville PK unit), Tootoo got a rematch with McArdle midway through the period. Tootoo didn't want to go, but McArdle wouldn't let go and basically begged for a fight - so Toots basically pounded the stuffing out of him and ended his evening early.

Amidst all those festivities, however, Florida tied the game. Jordan Leopold was the trailer in a 3-on-2 and fired a shot high stick side by Dan Ellis, who was outstanding in his first game action in 3 weeks. Despite his play, however, fans were nervous about a tied game heading into the third, with not much offense to show so far.

Things certainly turned during the final 20 minutes, however. The Preds poured it on with a 12-5 shooting advantage down the stretch, and took a 2-1 lead early on. Steve Sullivan got the puck all alone in front of the Florida net and took his shot, which led to a rebound at the side of the goal for J.P. Dumont. He took the time to lift a backhand over a prone Clemmensen for the goal, his fifth of the season.

David Legwand continued his hot play by adding an insurance goal a few minutes later, powering his way past a Panthers defender to chase a puck into the offensive end and stuff a shot through the 5-hole for his fifth goal as well. Joel Ward added an empty netter in the final minute to ice the game for Nashville.

The Preds conclude this home stand with a game Monday against the Calgary Flames, who boast a 9-1-3 road record after winning in Columbus tonight.

For the Florida perspective on the game, check out Litter Box Cats, SB Nation's Florida Panthers blog.

For discounted tickets to any Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

Looking at tonight's even-strength statistics, note that the overall SOG +/- and Corsi numbers are mostly positive; even the worst results on the team, mostly concentrated on the 4th-liners, are only mildly negative. Up front, the Legwand line had an excellent night, and consistently seemed to have the most jump.

Once again, however, that name down at the bottom of the list, Cody Franson, continues to put up positive results in relatively limited action.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Jason Arnott	C	11:31	2	2	0	2	8	4	4	17	12	5
Steve Sullivan	L	11:24	2	2	2	0	8	4	4	17	13	4
J P Dumont	R	9:55	2	0	0	0	7	3	4	16	10	6
David Legwand	C	12:01	2	0	1	0	12	5	7	19	13	6
Jerred Smithson	R	12:33	2	2	0	1	10	6	4	18	12	6
Joel Ward	R	11:46	3	1	0	1	10	3	7	17	11	6
Marcel Goc	C	12:57	1	1	1	0	4	6	-2	13	9	4
Martin Erat	R	10:39	0	0	1	0	5	7	-2	11	11	0
Jordin Tootoo	R	11:31	0	2	0	0	4	4	0	13	7	6
Michael Santorelli	C	5:57	1	0	0	0	2	4	-2	4	5	-1
Patric Hornqvist	R	8:51	1	0	0	0	4	6	-2	7	8	-1
Dave Scatchard	C	6:56	0	1	0	0	2	5	-3	5	6	-1
Shea Weber	D	14:28	5	2	1	1	11	10	1	22	20	2
Ryan Suter	D	14:09	0	1	1	3	10	10	0	19	21	-2
Kevin Klein	D	13:50	0	0	2	2	7	6	1	17	13	4
Francis Bouillon	D	13:56	0	0	0	0	6	5	1	14	11	3
Dan Hamhuis	D	15:48	0	1	2	0	9	4	5	20	8	12
Cody Franson	D	11:53	0	1	0	0	7	3	4	12	5	7

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Dan Ellis, 23 saves & 1 assist

22 votes

Dan Hamhuis, 1 goal, 1 assist, +3 in 21:16 TOI

31 votes

David Legwand, 1 goal in 21:14 TOI

12 votes

65 votes | Poll has closed

Predators, Ellis rip Panthers 4-1

Whale4ever — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:55:41 -0000

Jordan Leopold scored Florida's only goal. Not Nathan Horton. Not Stephen Weiss. Not Rostislav Olesz. Not Michael Frolik. Not...you get the point.

Nashville positively owned the Original Cats, leading in SOG (29-24) and just plain solid effort to get back in the win column. Goaltender Dan Ellis was superb when called upon - and that wasn't often - and given support with goals by Dan Hamhuis, David Legwand, Joel Ward, and JP Dumont.

Remember goal support? Neither do I, but it certainly sounds like a winning strategy. Works for Florida's opponents.

Another evening of chasing the plays and allowing the opposition to dictate terms. Sounds like U.S. foreign policy.

Why wasn't Clemmer in net for Toronto on Friday, paving the way for Tomas Vokoun to start this one, against a club he played eight seasons with.

Why was Kenndal McArdle allowed to risk injury - a second time - in another fight with Jordin Tootoo when Steve MacIntyre was standing by with zippo on his schedule?

Why - OH WHY - did defenseman Bryan McCabe lead his team in SOG? Where were the forwards? Oh, here they are: Horton: zero shots. Weiss: two. Frolik: two. Congratulations, Rusty Olesz...you led the forwards with three shots on goal. And a belated thanks to defenseman Bryan Allen and his three attempts.

Another complete and utter waste of time and cash by the Panthers (what does it cost to transport and house these guys for a night?).

A sick and terribly lacking performance.

The NHL's top defensive forwards

James Mirtle — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:49:06 -0000

More photos » by David Banks - AP

Montreal Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec and Chicago Blackhawks' John Madden.

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We're about far enough into the season that we can start to look at some individual stats and have enough of a sample size to draw some conclusions. This list is the same one I've been churning out for a couple years now, and ranks players defensively based on (a) quality of competition at even strength, (b) goals against per minute played at even strength and (c) goals against per minute played on the penalty kill.

Players also have to have played at least 15 games and fill a significant role on their team's shorthanded unit. Credit, as always, to Behind The Net for the data.

Here are the top 25 at the quarter-way mark:

	NAME	TEAM	GP	QCMP	EVGA/60	SHGA/60
1	BRANDON CROMBEEN	STL	21	0.12	1.44	1.33
2	KRIS VERSTEEG	CHI	22	0.13	1.49	5.25
3	JAY MCCLEMENT	STL	21	0.13	1.75	6.27
4	VERNON FIDDLER	PHX	25	0.03	1.86	3.61
5	JOHN MADDEN	CHI	23	0.12	2.17	5.61
6	DAVID LEGWAND	NSH	23	0.09	2.28	4.43
7	TRAVIS ZAJAC	N.J	22	0.16	0.73	9.20
8	MILAN MICHALEK	OTT	22	0.22	2.57	5.27
9	JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER	N.J	22	0.09	1.69	7.47
10	DANIEL WINNIK	PHX	25	-0.05	1.59	1.54
11	SAKU KOIVU	ANA	17	0.12	1.62	8.64
12	RYAN MALONE	T.B	21	0.18	2.20	7.49
13	MIKE FISHER	OTT	21	0.08	2.32	5.41
14	JOCHEN HECHT	BUF	20	-0.04	1.64	4.10
15	MIKE GRIER	BUF	15	-0.05	1.60	3.53
16	COLIN FRASER	CHI	23	0.04	2.33	4.39
17	JAMES WRIGHT	T.B	21	0.07	1.29	8.13
18	STEVE BEGIN	BOS	24	0.03	1.96	5.34
19	DANIEL ALFREDSSON	OTT	22	0.25	3.02	5.25
20	TOMAS PLEKANEC	MTL	24	-0.01	1.94	5.06
21	DAVID BACKES	STL	21	0.01	2.03	5.19
22	BRANDON DUBINSKY	NYR	18	0.06	2.20	5.72
23	JEFF HALPERN	T.B	21	0.06	2.34	5.54
24	SCOTT NICHOL	S.J	26	-0.07	1.89	2.35
25	JOEL WARD	NSH	21	0.14	2.10	8.81

There are a lot of different names so far than what we saw last season, and I don't know if that's due to the small sample size or if we're simply seeing new players step into these roles and excel. Players on the list who have gotten recognition as top defensive forwards in the past include Versteeg, McClement, Madden, Fisher, Grier, Alfredsson and Ward.

Without a lot of high profile names in there so far (i.e. Datsyuk, Zetterberg) it'll be interesting to see what the Selke candidates look like this season. I don't think you could go wrong giving it to Alfredsson, who always does a nice job on the Sens' PK.

Players who scored on the low end among those that qualified include Wayne Primeau, Craig Adams, Lee Stempniak, Greg Campbell and Rod Brind'Amour.

I'll look at the top defensive defencemen in the near future.

It's time to vote: Nashville Predators MVP, 1st Quarter

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:36:09 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

The Nashville Predators have gotten significant contributions from a number of players so far - but which of them deserves to be named the team MVP for the first quarter of the season?

Browse more photos »

The nominations are in, so it's time to vote, Predators fans - who is your team MVP for the 1st Quarter of this 2009-10 season? Follow after the jump for the nominations, then log your vote below...

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	21	1	2	3	-8	12	1	0	0	0	25	4.0

HartnellsMop: "without him, our D as a whole is nowhere near what it is now. JP’s play-making is certainly missed when he’s out, but i shutter to think how terrible our blueline would be if Klein and Hammer had to still be paired up."

J.P. Dumont

#71 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 219

Born: Apr 01, 1978

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - J.P. Dumont	14	3	12	15	2	6	0	0	0	0	34	8.8

Gover: "as JP Dumont goes, this team goes. Not only is he the points leader, but when he was out, they looked lost. He may not wear a C or an A on his chest but, more than anyone else, this is HIS team."

Lil cutie: "We are 9-3-1 in games that he has participated in, 8-0-1 when he has scored a point. He has averaged over a point per game; no one else on the team comes close to that scoring rate. There is no way that the goal-starved Predators would be over .500 without his offensive contribution."

KentS: "No doubt he’s the playmaker. Take a look at how hard other teams go after him and try to check him relentlessly."

Hockey Hillbilly: "At the start of a season of surprising performances (Smithson, Bouillon and Hornqvist among them), steady but inventive J.P. Dumont stands tall. Joel Ward embodies Predator grit but Dumont gets the job done."

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	15	2	3	5	3	6	0	0	1	0	28	7.1

Preds On The Glass: "He has steadily laid claim to the 6th D spot to the point that Sulzer is going to receive a charity start from Trotz. Franson’s offense was not questioned in the preseason but his defense was and now he is logging important minutes and not looking out of place in tough situations. I think he is probably here to stay."

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L			GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	14	780	9	4			31	2.38	361	330	.914	2

Gover: "Rinne has finally provided stability in net and the #’s in his past 8 games are astounding."

Sam Page: "The team has a negative goal differential, and the positive record seems to be the product of Rinne keeping the game close late. He’s clutch."

Jerred Smithson

#25 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-3

Weight: 204

Born: Feb 04, 1979

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jerred Smithson	21	4	0	4	3	18	0	2	1	0	15	26.7

whatthepuck: "He has scored four goals in 20 games, which already matches his total goals scored for the entire 08-09 season. He’s still great on the penalty kill, especially when paired with Joel Ward. And I honestly think the fact that he’s playing on the second line has given him a huge mental boost, helping his overall game. I have seen no one that compares to him in terms of off-season improvement. He used his summer wisely and is now standing out, at age 30, among a team with many younger players. This speaks volumes to his work ethic and dedication to the team and the sport."

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	21	2	8	10	1	14	1	0	0	0	22	9.1

Space Weed Says: "He’s played well, he’s contributed offensively and has worn an A on his jersey during Jason Arnott and Shea Weber’s abscences from the lineup."

Joel Ward

#29 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 220

Born: Dec 02, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Joel Ward	19	3	6	9	-1	6	2	0	1	0	37	8.1

Poiju: "For being one of the most consistent and motivated players throughout the first quarter."

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	19	5	7	12	0	4	3	0	1	0	53	9.4

Sam Page: "plays significantly more ice time than any of the other players above... Webs has played good defense as usual and is tied for the team’s goal lead as a defenseman!"

Poll

Who is the Nashville Predators MVP for the 1st Quarter of the season?

Francis Bouillon

8 votes

J.P. Dumont

20 votes

Cody Franson

1 votes

Pekka Rinne

44 votes

Jerred Smithson

10 votes

Ryan Suter

3 votes

Joel Ward

5 votes

Shea Weber

14 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Meet the Enemy: 5 Questions with the Predators

MrNorrisTrophy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:42:48 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Browse more photos »

Continuing the "Meet the enemy..." series, we've sent five questions over to Dirk Hoag, head honcho at On the Forecheck to get a better background prior to the first game of the season against the Nashville Predators.

1. Nashville is 8-2-0 in the last 10 games after starting 4-6-1. Where has the turnaround come from?
Dirk Hoag: The biggest factor there is probably health; early on, the Preds have constantly had one or more key players out of the lineup, and are finally healthy. It took a few weeks for Barry Trotz to sort out defense pairings that worked well also, but the rotation has been steady for the last 10 games or so.

2. Who is the unsung hero (or heroes) of the season so far?
Hoag: The unsung hero would have to be Francis Bouillon; signed to a tryout contract late in training camp, he's quickly assumed a solidifying role on the 2nd defense pair at even strength, and sees a decent amount of ice time both on the power play and killing penalties. He doesn't rack up a ton of points, but he is, in my mind at least, an upgrade over the departed Greg Zanon due to his versatility. He's plays a solid stay-at-home game, but isn't shy about jumping up if the chance presents itself.

3. On the opposite side, who has been a disappointment so far this year?
Hoag: The biggest disappointment, by far, has to be Martin Erat; the highest-paid Predator at $5.25 million this season, he's only mustered two goals and four assists through 18 games, and most of that production has come only recently. As I've said to others, if you brought a friend to a Preds game who was unfamiliar with the roster, there's no chance they would pick Erat as the highest-paid player on the team. While his defensive efforts are sound, Erat simply doesn't assert himself offensively.

4. Joel Ward burned the Red Wings in a game last year. So far, he's off to a pretty good start. What can the team expect out of him this year and further down the road?
Hoag: I don't think it's reasonable to expect more in terms of scoring, but if Ward can bring what he brought last year, he makes a great addition as a shutdown winger and penalty killer. He's great at protecting the puck using his body and wins more than his share of battles along the boards. I doubt he'll ever score 20 goals as an NHL'er, but he doesn't have to.

5. What does this team need to do to get back into the playoffs this year? Is about offense coming together or the defense and goaltending solidifying?
Hoag: The defense and goaltending are there, but the missing piece remains offensive depth up front. The Arnott line is dangerous, and David Legwand's line with Ward and Jerred Smithson is setting up as a good shutdown-type group, but the next line with Erat on one side, and Patric Hornqvist often on the other, needs a center that can threaten other teams offensively. So far, Mike Santorelli and Cal O'Reilly haven't provided much in that area, and rookie Colin Wilson has struggled through injuries. If the Preds can resolve that weakness, they should definitely slot somewhere in the 5-7 range in the Western Conference.

Thanks again to Dirk Hoag for answering our questions!

Red Wings vs Predators coverage

New Jersey Devils Get a Point, Lose in a Shootout to the Nashville Predators, 3-2

John Fischer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:28:28 -0000

The New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators played a fairly even game in Nashville. One team would begin to get momentum, start going forward in their attack, move the puck well, and get some strong shots on net. And then the other team would stop it and begin to do the same thing themselves. Regulation and overtime was not enough, and so the shootout was necessary. Ridiculously fortunate goal aside by Travis Zajac, Michael Santorelli and Martin Erat were able to beat Martin Brodeur in the shootout to give the home team two points.

And so the Devils didn't win their second straight game, 3-2 via the shootout. NHL.com has their recap up complete with the box score and

I felt both teams earned a point at least from the way things went, which were quite even. I'm sure Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck will have a different take, seeing his team beat the top teams in each conference in each of their last two games. Continue after the jump my further thoughts on the game.

On the surface, tonight's game actually was even. Both teams put up 28 shots on net in 65 minutes. Both teams scored two goals each, as seen in the embedded highlight video from NHL.com. Both goals came from one player on each team: Zach Parise for the Devils, Jason Arnott for the Predators. Both Devils goals came within less than 5 minutes after Nashville's goals. Both Martin Brodeur and Pekka Rinne made multiple big saves, allowed one goal they had no real chance on due to a deflection, and allowed one goal where they just got fooled on and would have loved to have back.

There were some stark differences in this game. The moribund Nashville power play struck gold to start the third period with an impeccable deflection from Arnott. It wasn't just the goal that made it good, but Nashville set themselves up well in the zone, moved it around with ease, and had the Devils' PK just chasing them. A far cry from Nashville's power play in the second period where two Devils lost their sticks and they still took the puck away and cleared it. Nevertheless, the Devils' power play except for maybe their first one never looked as good as the one Nashville had to start the third period. Oh, and they scored on that power play (caused by a Tyler Eckford hook after a scoring chance where Brodeur robbed Jordin Tootoo - as an aside, Eckford didn't look so bad in his first game and got 3 blocks in less than 10 minutes; but that was an unfortunate penalty to take).

Another big difference was in shot efficiency. According to the Event Summary of the game, the Devils had 28 shots on net, had 11 attempts blocked, and missed the net 8 times. That's not bad, perhaps the Devils should have been more aggressive in putting rubber on Pekka Rinne. But it's far more efficient than Nashville. While they got 28 shots on net, they were blocked 16 times and missed the net 18 times. The Predators had 34 shot attempts that never got to the net and that's definitely not what you'd like to see. When the total of attempts blocked and missed shots outnumber shots on goal, that's not good at all. It speaks well to the Devils' team defense being able to at least recover/adjust/maintain their positioning and prevent Nashville players from getting clear shots at Brodeur.

A third difference was in the forecheck. The Devils didn't sit back tonight, only that I felt they weren't nearly as effective as the Predators at it. The big supporting example is how that surprising first goal was created by Nashville. Jason Arnott just made something happen by going after the puck regardless of who had it - exactly what you hope to happen when pressing an opposition in their own end. Overall, in terms of forecheckers, I was impressed with Nashville's Joel Ward. Ward was all over the place in going after Devils defenders, put up 6 shots on net (1 blocked, 2 missed), and came very, very close to ending it in overtime when he won the puck back in the Devils' end and took it near post (Brodeur was solid on the post, of course). While the forecheck didn't necessarily lead to more shots - as seen by the number of blocks and misses, good work by the Devils defense for making it difficult - they were able to sustain their offense more effectively.

Lastly in terms of differences, the Devils suffered an important injury whereas Nashville did not. Dainius Zubrus blocked a slap shot from the point in the second period with his leg and he went down right afterwards. He got up, blocked another shot inadvertantly, and went right to the bench. On the TV broadcast, Steve Cangelosi noted in between the second and third periods that he would not be returning. I felt he was missed on the ice. The Devils were pounded on faceoffs, winning only 43% of them; and it forced Lemaire to shorten his bench and double shift players far earlier than he's used to. Granted, the adjustment of moving Dean McAmmond into a center from a fourth line winger worked, as he earned his first point as a Devil. And, yes, Zubrus lost the 5 faceoffs he did take before his injury. Still, Big Z could have improved earlier and made an impact within the contest with his puck possession skills and his size in the corners and in the slot.

Hopefully, the injury will not be serious and he'll be back soon because I'm not exactly enthused about a center line up of Zajac, McAmmond, Sestito, Pelley. According to this Tom Gulitti post game post, Zubrus won't be going to Dallas and he'll have his right leg checked out further tomorrow. Gulitti noted in that same post that Zubrus while he was wearing a brace; but he was able to walk with it. I'm hoping that's a positive sign.

In any case, I think the Devils earned their point tonight and that isn't terrible. Given that they lost in the shootout, it wasn't as if they were played off the ice or looked terrible overall. Perhaps the shootout could have gone either way. They could have been more consistent with good shifts at a minimum. I get it, but again, I felt this was an even game overall between the two teams.

But to the team - and I'm confident Jacques Lemaire will make this point - the result isn't all that acceptable. Regardless of how, the fact is that the Devils didn't win. The Devils didn't respond to their first loss since the end of October with a proper result. They are now winless in two and so the pressure to win Saturday's game will likely be increased. The team will do well to not get down on themselves and work on being more consistent in their play. I don't think it's time to panic at all, but another loss would certainly starting creating concerns, regardless of how justified they may be.

Thanks for reading and I thank all the readers and commenters in Steve's GameThread. Please leave all your comments about tonight's game here.

Game 20 Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Nashville Predators - 11/19/2009

John Fischer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:12 -0000

by Matt Slocum - AP

Zach Parise and his shots were well covered by defenders all night against Philadelphia. Can he break free into space in Nashville tonight? (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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The Time: 8 PM EST

The Broadcasting Info: MSG+ for the TV; 660 AM WFAN for the radio

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (14-5-0) @ the Nashville Predators (10-8-1)

The Last Devils Game: The New Jersey Devils went into Philadelphia with 9 straight road wins and 8 straight wins overall and got outplayed by the Flyers. A late consolation goal led to a flattering 3-2 score; but from where I stood, the Devils definitely earned that loss.

The Last Predators Game: The Nashville Predators took on the San Jose Sharks and more than held their own against the Western Conference leaders last night. Their checking line had a big night, Pekka Rinne was solid in net, and they overcame the Sharks 4-3. Dirk Hoag has recapped the game at On the Forecheck, complete with a wonderful table of even strength statistics.

The Goal: Stay calm. The Devils had a long winning streak broken on Monday, getting out played by a Philadelphia team that was able to get to Brodeur's crease with ease and prevent Devils to get right in front of Ray Emery. Perhaps doing better on around the crease in both ends will help. It's what the Devils worked on practice on Tuesday according to Tom Gulitti. But I feel keeping a level head is more crucial. Tonight, they will take on a team who has won 7 of their last 9 and just beat the top team in the West largely due to a power play that has otherwise been miserable. It may be easy to start getting frustrated or play with a little more desperation in an attempt to make a statement or prevent a slump. I feel that could be counter-productive against a team that has to be feeling good and playing well. The Devils have come from behind in so many of their recent wins by not getting frustrated within the game while looking to work harder on the next shift. That was the key to their success and they can get back to doing that Nashville. Only if they stay calm, in my opinion.

Read on for a guess at lines, some further thoughts, and some insight into the Nashville Predators as Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck answers some question about the team he supports.

The recent big news with respect to the lineup is that the Devils have sent Cory Murphy down to Lowell and have called up Tyler Eckford. The Devils have called up Matthew Corrente earlier this month, so one of the two Devils' top defenseman prospects will be in tonight's game. Corrente has been highly regarded in the Devils' system since being drafted in the first round in 2006, tonight could be his NHL debut to see how he's developed. Eckford has had the hot hands in Lowell, with 2 goals and 7 assists in 3 games last week. Eckford has grown like wildfire since being a seventh round draft pick in 2004, putting up plenty of points in the CCHA before joining Lowell. With Murphy sent down, the Devils can see how Eckford could do in a similar role as an offensive defenseman.

Either way, in the comments to Steve's Murphy-down, Eckford-up post, I explained why I thought Murphy was sent down. Regardless of who gets their first NHL game against Nashville, the Devils' current top four defensemen will have to carry the majority of minutes yet again. Andy Greene, Colin White, Mike Mottau, and Bryce Salvador had unimpressive-at-best games in Philly. If those four can not panic in their own end, not allow Nashville forwards to get behind them, and steady themselves tonight, then it'll go a long way towards a good result for New Jersey.

In any case, here is my guess for the Devils' line up. As usual, expect the forward lines to shift during the game. With respect to who will be in or out, your best bet is to check out Gulitti or Chere later in the day. Again, this is only a guess:

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Jamie Langenbrunner
Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus - Niclas Bergfors
Brian Rolston - Tim Sestito - David Clarkson
Matt Halischuk - Rod Pelley - Ilkka Pikkarainen

Andy Greene - Bryce Salvador
Colin White - Mike Mottau
Mark Fraser - Matthew Corrente

Martin Brodeur
Yann Danis

While Eckford was just called up, I'm guessing Corrente will get to make his debut as he's been up with the team already and have been practicing to get himself acclimated to the team. I'm also guessing Jacques Lemaire will mix up his wingers and give Ilkka Pikkarainen a shot since the Devils may not necessarily need a big, fighting (?) dude like Peters tonight.

Anyway, let's look at the Nashville Predators. Do you know much about the Predators other than that they beat the San Jose Sharks last night? Did you know that head coach Barry Trotz aired a beef about the arena clock operator at the Sommet Center after the win (via Puck Daddy)? Do you know who is the highest played player on the Nashville Predators? (Just for fun, guess without looking up CapGeek - I think you'll be amazed at the answer) Well, I had some other questions about how the Predators have been doing and the man to ask about the Predators is Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck. I was able to ask him five questions about the Predators and tonight's game. Keep in mind the questions came before

Question #1. The big story with Nashville on the surface is their difficulty in scoring goals. Prior to the San Jose game, they have scored only 39 goals in 18 games (2.11 average - second lowest in the league) and their power play is dead last at a 11.6% success rate. Yet, the Predators average 30.8 shots per game, the tenth best average in the league. While it's clear to me the Predators are getting shots on net, what has prevented Nashville from scoring goals so far this season?

DH: There are a few reasons for that discrepancy - the first is obviously a lack of finishers, the guys who can take that extra half-second to pick their spot when shooting. The Preds have only had their top line playing together for 3 games now, and the replacement personnel just don't provide that skill. Also, the team is playing a style that dictates firing the puck on net more often and having supporting forwards crash the net for rebounds, rather than circle around and try to set up a perfect shot. As for the power play, that's been a persistent problem for the last three seasons now, and although they scored twice against San Jose on Tuesday, nobody's breaking out the party balloons quite yet.

Question #2. One team stat that I'm sure you're thrilled with are team's penalties. The Predators average only 9.6 minutes per game and have taken a total of only 158 minutes; leading the league in both categories. Why are the Predators so disciplined this season?

DH: Barry Trotz has mentioned quite often in recent days that staying out of the box has been a major focus with this team. He's emphasized "checking with your feet", in other words, having players keep hustling to stay with a play rather than tail off and have to hook or hold an opponent. The team is still playing tough hockey in terms of initiating contact and following through on body checks, but avoiding penalties is key. One interesting point there is the return of Martin Gelinas to the organization as Director of Player Development; when he played with the Preds in 2007-8, he is credited with mentoring Jordin Tootoo during his most disciplined and productive season, so perhaps he's providing some advice on that front as well.

Question #3. Let's talk goalies. Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne have been splitting time so far this season, though Rinne has the better numbers so far. Does this mean that Rinne has - or should be - the team's starter; or do you not mind the two goalies splitting time?

DH: I don't mind having both split the duty, although the balance does appear to be tipping in Rinne's favor. Both are solid NHL goaltenders, and since they are in the final year of their contracts, each is motivated to make an impact whenever they get the chance. With the compressed schedule this season, all teams will need reliable depth in goal, and the Preds are set up as well as anybody on that front.

Question #4. Among the Predator players, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter lead the Nashville defense in terms of minutes. While they are certainly impressive players to an outsider like me, who on the Predators should the Devils look out for that hasn't necessarily got the attention (or credit) they deserve?

DH: Up front, the two guys you'll want to watch for are Patric Hornqvist, a second-year Swede who battles around the net like a right-handed Tomas Holmstrom, and Jerred Smithson, a veteran who is usually focused on checking and PK work, but is clicking on a line with Joel Ward and David Legwand. Smitty is a hard worker, and unexpectedly ranks 3rd among Nashville forwards with 4 goals already. On defense, Kevin Klein has grown into a Top 4 role and is playing well after a rocky start, and also look for Cody Franson, a rookie who is getting work on the power play.

Question #5. Lastly, what is your prediction for tonight's game?

DH: I don't usually do predictions, but I really like the way the Preds are playing right now. I'll go with 3-2 Nashville.

Big thanks to Dirk for his responses. As usual, I disagree with his prediction; but he is right that the team is loaded with hard working, under-the-radar players. They got two solid goaltenders; while the Devils may see Dan Ellis tonight since Rinne got the San Jose game, Nashville won't be weaker in net.

That their power play was successful against San Jose is a real interesting note, perhaps the start of something big. With respect to special teams play, that Nashville takes so few penalties is a big plus in their favor; a power play unit that finally just got a spark could really make them more dangerous of an opponent along with being rarely shorthanded. After all, a little confidence can turn a slumping part of a team's game right around - and Nashville's offense has clearly been in a lull this season. The Devils would do well to remember that going into tonight's game. As well as staying calm on the ice will minimize the number man advantages the Predators will have to get confident on their power play and on offense in general.

Thanks for reading. Steve will have the GameThread up later today. As usual, please feel free to use this post comment about tonight's game as well as any new news with either team up until the GameThread begins. If you can, check out the Devils' viewing party at the Black Bear Bar in Hoboken. I unfortunately won't be able to make it, so I'll comment during the game here. Go Devils!

Shutdown line outscores San Jose's big guns as Predators top Sharks 4-3

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:31:53 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

23 days ago: Nashville Predators center Jerred Smithson, left, celebrates with defenseman Kevin Klein (8) after Smithson scored a goal against the San Jose Sharks in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Charged with trying to shut down San Jose's top line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Ryan Clowe, the Nashville Predators line of David Legwand, Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson instead lit up the scoreboard in a 4-3 victory over the top team in the Western Conference. Legwand and Ward each had a goal and two assists, while Smithson added his 4th goal of the season. Those three were the only Nashville forwards to finish on the positive side of the Plus/Minus stat as well, as the team held on for the 7th win in their last nine games.

After the jump we've got the recap and advanced even-strength statistics...

The key to tonight's win, remarkably enough, was special teams. Nashville's power play, which has been a sore spot all season, got them the early lead when Steve Sullivan converted a 5-on-3 advantage in the 1st period to put the Preds in front 1-0 at the 13:19 mark. Sully simply set up in the faceoff dot to the right of San Jose goaltender Thomas Greiss and one-timed a crossing pass from J.P. Dumont into a wide-open net for the score.

Shortly thereafter, however, it was a pair of ex-Predators who tied the game back up; while Nashville was finishing up a 5-on-4 advantage left over after the Sullivan goal, Jed Ortmeyer stormed down the right wing and fed the puck in front to a streaking Scott Nichol, who tipped it in for his first goal of the season.

Less than two minutes later, though, the Preds answered back. A 2-on-1 break got started when Ward tipped the puck out of the Nashville zone. Legwand carried through center ice into the San Jose end, and fed Smithson for his 4th goal, tying his output from all of last season in just his 18th game.

In the second period, it was once again the power play that made a difference for the Preds; with Dan Boyle off for tripping J.P. Dumont, Ward tipped a Ryan Suter point shot to extend the Nashville lead to 3-1. It was Ward's third goal of the season and his second on the power play.

Things really got rolling just a few minutes later, as persistent forechecking led to another Nashville score; Ward dug the puck out of the corner deep in the San Jose zone, fed it Legwand in the circle, and a quick shot put the Preds up 4-1, whereupon the crowd immediately started chanting for Frosties (which tickets are good for when the Predators score 5 goals at home).

From there on, it was an issue of holding on; the Sharks' top line with Thornton and Heatley often created dangerous chances, and they cashed in with 41 seconds left in the second period to close the gap to 4-2.

In the third, the Predators killed off a Holding penalty to Suter midway through the period, and seemed on the smooth road to victory until the final minute. With the San Jose goalkeeper pulled, the Sharks capitalized on the 6-on-5 advantage with a Patrick Marleau goal to make the score 4-3 with 52 seconds left. Just then, however, there was a problem with the game clock, which led to a few minutes of delay before the game continued. When Nashville iced the puck with 3 seconds left, the clock ran down to 0 again, resulting in another delay before they could put the time back up and resume play. While the Preds rode it out and sealed the victory, head coach Barry Trotz ripped the off-ice officials in his post-game press conference, saying they basically gave San Jose two extra opportunities to rest up their best players and take their shot at tying the game.

Fortunately for Nashville, those technical gaffes didn't cost them on the scoreboard or in the standings.

Pekka Rinne was excellent in net for the Predators, making 29 saves on 32 San Jose shots; none of the goals against were particularly soft, and he did a good job stuffing a number of dangerous opportunities. He's now won six of his last seven starts.

Having opened their 5-game home stand with consecutive victories, attention can now turn to the New Jersey Devils, who bring the Eastern Conference's best record into the Sommet Center on Thursday...

When considering the Even Strength statistics below, what jumps out once again is the relatively even distribution of ice time; since the Predators aren't taking many penalties, they can generally roll all four lines. Whenever the Thornton line came out the Legwand line responded, and there were instances where Marcel Goc got an extra shift or two that started in the defensive zone (as a backup faceoff man), but all the forwards got plenty of work.

On defense, the top pair of Weber and Suter had their hands full dealing with Thornton and Heatley, but they blocked a few shots and kept the damage to a minimum (only 1 of Heatley's 7 attempted shots forced Rinne to make a save, for example). Cody Franson continues to put up positive results in a relatively limited role, and that's the sign of a coach putting a young player in the best possible position to succeed. After some horrendous efforts during the opening weeks of the season, it would appear that three stable pairings have developed in Suter/Weber, Bouillon/Klein, and Hamhuis/Franson.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Jason Arnott	C	14:33	2	4	0	0	7	10	-3	15	14	1
Steve Sullivan	L	13:50	0	0	1	0	5	8	-3	12	14	-2
J P Dumont	R	14:02	2	2	0	0	5	9	-4	13	13	0
David Legwand	C	17:38	1	1	1	1	7	5	2	14	19	-5
Jerred Smithson	R	15:51	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	9	17	-8
Joel Ward	R	15:54	2	1	1	1	6	4	2	9	18	-9
Martin Erat	R	10:43	0	1	1	0	9	7	2	13	11	2
Michael Santorelli	C	8:31	2	0	0	0	7	6	1	8	10	-2
Patric Hornqvist	R	10:10	3	0	0	0	8	6	2	9	10	-1
Marcel Goc	C	11:37	2	1	0	1	5	7	-2	8	12	-4
Andreas Thuresson	R	10:01	1	0	0	1	4	5	-1	7	10	-3
Jordin Tootoo	R	10:28	1	1	1	0	5	5	0	9	10	-1
Shea Weber	D	19:56	2	1	1	3	6	10	-4	13	25	-12
Ryan Suter	D	20:06	0	0	0	2	6	10	-4	10	25	-15
Kevin Klein	D	16:27	1	0	0	2	7	8	-1	13	14	-1
Francis Bouillon	D	15:25	1	0	0	1	4	9	-5	8	18	-10
Dan Hamhuis	D	17:06	1	0	0	2	15	8	7	26	12	14
Cody Franson	D	14:15	1	0	1	1	10	7	3	16	12	4

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

David Legwand, GW goal, 2 assists

60 votes

Pekka Rinne, 29 saves

12 votes

Joel Ward, PP goal, 2 assists

20 votes

92 votes | Poll has closed