SBNation.com - Red Wings Vs. Predators, Game 4: Nashville Puts Detroit In 3-1 Hole

Red Wings Vs. Predators, Game 4: Despite Lineup Adjustments, Detroit Falls To Nashville, Goes Down 3-1

2012-04-18T13:54:07Z

Prior to Game 4 between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, neither team had shown an offensive advantage in the series, despite the talent that both rosters contain. Down 2-1 in the series heading into Tuesday night's affair, Mike Babcock made some changes to the lineup in order to bring a little offensive balance for Detroit to take advantage of their well-known dominance at home.

The notable changes for included putting Dan Cleary with Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen. Meanwhile, Todd Bertuzzi, whom Cleary replaced, moved down to play with Justin Abdelkader and Drew Miller to add some frontline presence to give the Predators defense some trouble. Cleary has been recovering from an injury to his knee, and after a few games (and a bunch of cortisone shots), he earned a chance to get going this series on Detroit's top line.

The changes worked in the Wings' favor to start, as they came out much harder than the Predators. Nashville was unable to establish anything offensively and Detroit owned in zone time -- by the start of the third period, the Preds only had 10 shots (three in the second alone) to the Red Wings' 28. The advantage in puck possession also gave the Wings more chances on the power play. It seemed inevitable that the line changes had worked, giving Detroit an edge in holding the Predators talent back.

The only problem was that none of the changes turned into actual goals, so changes were made once again during the game. Bertuzzi returned to the top line and Cleary was moved back down with Abdelkader and Miller. It didn't work. While one Nashville attempt was reviewed and ruled no-goal early in the period, the Preds got one right to take the 1-0 lead. The Wings kept up the pressure and Jiri Hudler scored to tie the game on the team's fifth power play of the evening, but it didn't take long for the Predators to take the lead again. They have their own adjustments to thank.

Martin Erat began the game playing with Sergei Kostitsyn and Mike Fisher, but by the third period he was moved over to work with Fisher and Patric Hornqvist, who was moved up from the third line. The Preds' adjustment worked almost immediately, as he took advantage of a defensive breakdown and fed the puck to Kevin Klein for the open goal.

With Nashville leading by midway in the third period, Babcock continued to tinker with the lines, but the changes worked to no avail, as the Wings went down, 3-1 in the game and now the series.

The number one reason for the failure in Detroit's adjustments was Pekka Rinne, who finally played up to his expected level in Game 4, stopping 40 of 41 shots on the night. At the same time, maybe it's true that Nashville just has the simple ability to outmatch Detroit, regardless of what lineup they throw together.

Red Wings Vs. Predators, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Nashville Takes Big Series Lead With 3-1 Win

2012-04-18T05:01:03Z

The Detroit Red Wings have a big hill to climb. David Legwand's late power-play goal sealed the win for the Nashville Predators in Game 4, and the Wings now trail the best-of-seven series three games to one.

It's safe to say it was a pretty fluky goal. Sergei Kostitsyn had the puck along the boards and was covered tight by two Red Wings players. Dan Cleary was there to pick up the puck when it squirted free from the puck battle along the boards, but when he turned around and tried to move up ice, all Legwand had to do was tap it off Cleary's stick to beat goalie Jimmy Howard.

The Predators were lucky to come out on top with the 3-1 victory. Pekka Rinne was fantastic, making 40 saves for Nashville in earning the win. But, well ... he had to make 40 saves, and by comparison, Nashville only put 17 shots on goal. Detroit completely controlled possession throughout the game, but the Predators were extremely opportunistic in capitalizing on their own chances.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Red Wings vs. Predators series coverage. For more from the Detroit perspective, check in with Winging It In Motown and SB Nation Detroit. For more from the Nashville perspective, check in with On The Forecheck.

Red Wings Vs. Predators, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Jimmy Howard Gaffe Gives Nashville Easy Lead

2012-04-18T02:18:58Z

What Jimmy Howard giveth, Jimmy Howard taketh away. The Detroit Red Wings goaltender has made 14 saves as of the midway point of the third period in Game 4 -- a small number, but that show just how much the Wings are dominating play -- but it took just one (huge) mistake by Howard to give Nashville a huge upper hand.

Just 3:11 after Jiri Hudler had tied the score at 1-1 in the third, Howard overplayed a puck to his right and ... well, that was a pretty awful mistake on his part. It left defenseman Kevin Klein a huge net at which to shoot, and Howard didn't even have time to try and make the save.

Klein is not a goal scorer. He had four goals all season. He now has two goals in two games. Very important playoff-sized goals, we might add.

Red Wings Vs. Predators, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Detroit Controls Scoreless First Period

2012-04-18T00:39:27Z

We're scoreless through one period of play at Joe Louis Arena, but if you can win a period without putting a point on the board, the Detroit Red Wings certainly did that. Or perhaps the Nashville Predators won the period by not allowing a goal during that first 20 minutes.

Nashville only trailed 11 to seven in the shots category during the first, but those numbers were a bit misleading. The Red Wings were particularly strong in the transition game, catching the Predators off guard in the neutral zone on multiple occasons. Johan Franzen came close on one particular instance when he broke in on Pekka Rinne's goal and just squeaked the puck past the outside of the post. Detroit also controlled possession for most of the five-on-five play.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Red Wings Vs. Predators Game 4: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-04-17T14:00:57Z

The Detroit Red Wings' nemesis, Shea Weber, scored a power play goal three minutes into Game 3 for the Nashville Predators in their Western Conference playoff series. The Wings never recovered. One game after they put together a great performance in Nashville to even the series, the Wings dropped a game at home. Even though the Predators can't win the series on Tuesday, the Wings will feel like they're in a virtual must-win situation.

No. 4 Nashville Predators at No. 5 Detroit Red Wings
7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday -- Game 3, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Nashville leads series, 2-1
National TV: NBC Sports Network, CBC, RDS | Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit, SportSouth

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was brilliant in Game 3, and between their poor special teams and the injury to Hal Gill, Nashville will need him to come up big again. The Red Wings have gotten good individual game performances from their offensive stars, but they have yet to get all of them clicking at the same time. It might take all of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen playing at their best to put enough past Rinne to win.

For all news and information regarding the Nashville, please visit Predators blog On the Forecheck. For updates and perspective on the Detroit, head on over to Red Wings blog Winging it in Motown and SB Nation Detroit.