Red Wings-Predators quick take: Wings work their butts off but can’t Finnish vs. Saros, Predators

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to sweep their season series against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

Detroit worked its asses off for the final 40 minutes’ worth of play, but the Wings surrendered a 2-0 first period deficit to Nashville, Detroit was not able to close 2-1 or 3-1 deficits, and ultimately the Wings lost 3-2 to a determined Nashville team.

Detroit out-shot Nashville 28-14 over the final 2 periods and 36-29 overall, the Wings were gritty, determined and nasty at times, and I cannot complain about Detroit’s effort, intensity, attention to detail, or anything else other than their finishing skill.

Jusse Saros was tremendous and the Predators’ defense was better, because Detroit fired another 18 shots into Predators’ shin pads and 11 wide of the net.

So the Wings enter the post-Mrazek era 0-and-1. They host the Sabres on Thursday and Hurricanes on Saturday, the Wings head to New York to play the Rangers on Sunday, and a different set of personnel will enter a road-heavy March schedule after next Monday’s trade deadline.

The Predators’ lineup was known before the game, as posted by NashvillePredators.com’s Thomas Willis…

Forwards

Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala – Kyle Turris – Craig Smith

Scott Hartnell – Nick Bonino – Calle Jarnkrok

Miikka Salomaki – Colton Sissons – Austin Watson

Defense

Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin – Yannick Weber

Goaltenders

Juuse Saros

Pekka Rinne

And the Wings’ lineup was known before the game, too:

The Predators started Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johanssen and Viktor Arvidsson at forward, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis on defense and Jusse Saros in goal;

The Red Wings started Darren Helm, Frans Nielsen and Justin Abdelkader at forward, Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley on defense and Jimmy Howard in goal.

Francis Charron and Dan O’Halloran refereed the game, with Derek Amell and Brad Kovachik working the lines.

The 1st period

1st period observations:

  • Nielsen drew in for the opening faceoff opposite Johansen and Nielsen won the draw to Daley, Abdelkader and Helm chipped and chased and the Predators iced the puck 16 seconds into the 1st period.
  • Nielsen’s line remained on the ice and they had to re-set at center ice, dump and change at 35 seconds of the first period. Arvidsson flipped the puck to Mikka Salomaki and he slid the first shot of the game into Howard at 42 seconds.
  • The Wings turned the puck over off Glendening’s faceoff loss, and Nashville fired an attempt wide before Bertuzzi, Glendening and Frk pushed the Predators back into their zone with a strong forecheck. Nashville chipped and changed, Witkowski and Kronwall worked the puck up to center ice, and Glendening chased the puck down into the Preds’ zone as Detroit made another line change 1:35 into the game.
  • Ericsson and Daley returned to the ice as Mantha worked the puck up to Nyquist, Zetterberg sent a long shot in on Saros at 1:52 and Saros mopped up the puck.
  • Tatar, Larkin and Athanasiou wrapped the puck around the Predators’ net before having to re-set at center ice, with DeKeyser and Jensen getting on and off the ice in a hurry as the Predators continued to try and sneak Forsberg, Johansen and Arvidsson on the ice.
  • After the Predators fired a shot wide, the Predators set up in the Wings’ zone with Turris’ line on the ice, and they got two attempts on Howard off a bad turnover by Jensen. Craig Smith and then Kyle Turris flicked pucks on Howard, but he made the first stop and gloved the second puck.
  • The Wings lost the ensuing faceoff and Johansen got the puck to Forsberg, and he jammed another shot in on Howard, who stifled the Predators’ attack.
  • Nielsen lost a second straight faceoff (he had replaced Zetterberg’s line) and Yannick Weber blasted a snapper in on Howard, so Glendening came over the boards to help win the right dot draw, and he did just that.
  • 3:30 into the 1st, the Wings and Predators had completed their four-line rotation.
  • Nashville’s offense continued to pepper Howard as the Larkin line broke down and got backed in, but Howard made a couple of big stops and the Wings iced the puck at 4:05;

Glendening’s line got pressured to lose the faceoff and the Preds worked the puck to the blueline, where Roman Josi slap-shot the puck in on the net, Calle Jarnkrok bumped Jimmy Howard and Scott Hartnell tipped the puck past Howard with his skate.

 Hartnell scored the goal from Josi at 4:18 of the 1st…

Detroit challenged for goaltender interference because Jarnkrok skated into Howard and bumped him, then fell out of the crease, but the goal stood.

  • Larkin, Tatar and Athanasiou drew in for the post-goal faceoff, they lost it, and Detroit was able to chip the puck to center ice, but Nashville chipped and chased, Jensen and DeKeyser were able to clear the puck to center ice, and Nashville set up with possession, but went offside.
  • As the 5-minute mark passed, Zetterberg, Mantha and Nyquist tried to push the puck into the Preds’ zone, but Subban and Ekholm set up behind the Preds’ net, waited, and slid the puck down ice, where Craig Smith negated an icing call and Nashville re-set at center ice.
  • Howard played the puck to Jensen, he flipped the puck out of trouble and Nieslen and Helm worked a give-and-go…And Saros held Nielsen’s centering pss.
  • At 6:14, the Wings were out-shot 9-2 and out-attempted 10-2; hits 5-3 Nashville, giveaways 0-0, takeaways 1-0 Nashville, blocked shots 0-0, faceoffs 7-4 Nashville (36% for Detroit).
  • In other words, the Predators were coming off their win over Ottawa with STRONG play, and Detroit was being ran over.
  • Larkin’s line drew in for the post-TV timeout faceoff, and Ericsson blasted a shot just wide of Saros, the Wings struggled to contain the puck, and Howard played the puck to Daley, Detroit exited the zone, and AA fumbled the puck at the Preds’ line, but Tatar flipped and chased…
  • But the emphasis is on CHASING. Detroit was chasing the Preds.
  • Athanasiou at least got a chance in on Saros, but it was single, un-screened and un-followed.
  • The refs weren’t calling anything, either. Mantha’s stick got slashed out of his hands: no call. Athanasiou got hacked on the pants: no call.
  • 8:04 into the 1st, Danny DeKeyser of all people pinched off a a strong cycle from Nyquist and Mantha, and Mantha slid the puck to DeKeyser, who fluttered a backhand into Saros’ glove.
  • Detroit started to engage offensively, with Helm, Nielsen and Abdelkader grinding the puck out down low, and while DeKeyser’s point shot was blocked and Nashville charged into the Wings’ zone, Detroit re-took puck control and skated into Nashville’s zone as they changed lines.
  • Detroit managed to recover from a turnover vs. the Turris line, and Larkin and Tatar combined for a faceoff dot shot on Saros;
  • Smith and Josi rushed into the Wings’ zone…

Josi slid the puck on net and NO ONE covered the rebound that went off Kronwall’s shin pads, affording Turris the opportunity to deke and dangle around Howard, who never saw the puck.

Turris scored from Josi and Smith at 9:35 of the 1st, the Predators’ 10th shot.

  • Howard had to make a big stop on Forsberg on the post-goal shift, and Nashville attacked after a recoil-recover at center ice, but Frk, Bertuzzi and Glendening pushed the puck into the Preds’ zone.
  • Nashville changed defenders at center ice, Bonino backhanded a shot over Howard’s glove and behind the net, and Detroit could only chip the puck down ice and complete their change.
  • Nashville attacked again and Emelin blasted a heavy shot into Wings shin pads in front of Howard, and this time, Detroit cleared the zone;
  • Athanasiou, Larkin and Tatar then buzzed into the Predators’ zone, and an Ericsson tip yielded a stop by Saros on an unseen shot;
  • The Wings were beginning to block shots in their zone, which was good to see.
  • Johansen, Arivdsson and Forsberg worked the puck to Josi, Howard made a big stop, and a TV timeout hit at 13:16.
  • At 13:16, Detroit was out-shot 12-7 and out-attempted 17-9; hits 8-6 Nashville; giveaways 2-0 Detroit, takeaways 2-1 Nashville; blocked shots 4-2 Detroit; faceoffs 9-7 Nashville (44%).
  • Detroit blocked a shot off the post-TV timeout draw, and Zetterberg stole the puck and swept it into the slot, but Josi was there, he got the puck up ice, Turris tried to feed Smith, and DeKeyser blocked that pass, but Josi was able to swipe the Wings’ zone exit and his slap shot was blocked.
  • Then Jarnkrok, Bonino and Sissons cycled in the Wings’ zone, Subban’s big boomer was blocked, and the Nielsen unit got hemmed in, looking very pedestrian.
  • 14 minutes into the 1st, Nashville was out-shooting Detroit 13-7..
  • And Nashville was firing point shots toward or near the Wings’ net with reckless abandon.
  • Howard made a good stop with Austin Watson pushing and shoving in front of him, and the next TV timeout hit.
  • At 14:43, Detroit was out-shot 14-7 and out-attempted 22-10; hits 8-8; giveaways 3-0 Detroit, takeaways 2-1 Nashville; blocked shots 6-3 Detroit; faceoffs 10-8 Nashville (44%).
  • Detroit won the post-TV timeout draw and Daley, Abdelkader and Nielsen worked a solid set-up down low, but their shot attempts went wide;
  • With 4:30 remaining in the 1st, Detroit set up with Daley sending a fine outlet pass to Nyquist, but the Zetterberg line went offside…
  • Detroit at least had a good breakout going, and Nyquist NEARLY split the Predators’ defense, but Ekholm pushed his stick away from the puck, and that was enough to disrupt the breakaway.
  • Detroit swiped the puck and Mantha fed Nyquist in the Preds’ slot, but his shot was blocked and iced.
  • The Wings’ defense wasn’t keeping pace with its crisp offense.
  • Nashville cycled, cycled, Salomaki found Watson in front–ALONE–via Josi pinching, and Howard made a MASSIVE stop to keep it 0-2…
  • Frk, Bertuzzi and Athanasiou played a shift together, and they fumbled and bumbled the puck into the offensive zone, but momentum was shifting toward the Red Wings, and Daley, Abdelkader and Glendening worked with a pinching Daley to cycle, work the puck to the point, fire the puck into a pile, and Ericsson pinched and pushed the puck into the outside of the net.
  • Working. Grinding. Digging.
  • Nyquist fed Zetterberg, he went back to Nyquist, and the Preds blocked the 2-on-2 as Forsberg checked the pass…

And Detroit took a dumb penalty 120 feet from his goal, going for tripping at 19:30.

  • Nashville set up on the PP, worked the puck to the point on the umbrella, and Ellis’ shot was blocked by Daley and cleared by Larkin.
  • Nashville broke out of their zone and tried to set up in the Wings’ zone but ran out of time, and they would start the 2nd with 1:30 of PP time.

The 1st period in summary: Nashville came out as if they were shot from a cannon, skating hard, crashing and banging, attacking the net and embarrassing the Wings’ defense twice, scoring a tipped goal and then a goal in which no Red Wings player saw the puck that Kyle Turris tucked into the net, and Detroit took until the final few minutes of the period to really challenge Saros. To the positive, the Wings’ breakout improved and the Wings’ attack was eventually OK, but they afforded Nashville possession and control in the Wings’ zone for the vast majority of the period.

Statistically, Detroit was out-shot 15-8 and out-attempted 27-14; hits were 11-10 Nashville; giveaways 5-1 Nashville, takeaways 2-2 (possession changes 7-3 Nashville); blocked shots 10-3 Nashville; faceoffs 14-8 Nashville (36% for Detroit);

Individually, Larkin led the Wings with 2 shots, and Nyquist, Tatar, Zetterberg, Ericsson, DeKeyser and Daley had 1 shot; Abdelkader and Witkowski had 3 hits; Larkin had 2 giveaways; Nyquist and Ericsson had takeaways; Glendening, Kronwall and Daley blocked 2 shots; Zetterberg’s 2-and-2 (50%) faceoff record led the team; Detroit was -10, with Kronwall and Witkowski at -2; Ericsson led the team with 8:01 played; Daley played 7:57, Abdelkader 6:17, Witkowski 6:11, Kronwall 6:02, DeKeyser and Larkin 6:01, Nielsen 5:51, Jensen 5:48.

FSD had the scoring chances at 6-2 Nashville on their 15-8 shot advantage.

The 2nd period

2nd period observations:

  • Nashville began the 2nd period with 1:30 of PP time.
  • The Predators won the opening faceoff opposite Helm, Nielsen, Daley and Ericsson, and Nashville set up in the Wings’ zone, but Daley took a bouncing centering pass and chipped it all the way down the ice.
  • Nashville re-set with 47 remaining in the PP, but Glendening parried away a Preds rush, Glendening and Abdelkader worked together with DeKeyser and Jensen to clear a puck, and Helm and Nielsen re-joined the play, with DeKeyser skating out the Preds’ dump-in.
  • Nyquist returned to the ice and Detroit tried to push down on the Predators, and Mantha swiped a Johansen pass, jammed it into the Preds’ zone, and Zetterberg and Nyquist could not stop the Predators from clearing, but Kronwall pinched to stifle the breakout, and the Wings handled the Preds’ set-up nicely.
  • Detroit looked engaged and sharp.
  • Witkowski of all people sent a sneaky shot in on Saros and kicked the rebound into the Predators’ goaltender some 2:39 into the 2nd.
  • Larkin’s line re-set at center, Tatar and Athanasiou fed Jensen, and he sent a wrist shot through AA’s stick but wide.
  • Howard had to make his first kick stop 3:15 into the 2nd period…
  • Salomaki, Watson and Turris ground out the puck down low and Ericsson tried to feed AA, Daley swiped the Preds’ clear, and Bertuzzitook over, cycling the puck and forcing Turris to chase him.
  • Glendening, Abdelkader and Bertuzzi had a good shift together, disrupting the Preds’ breakout and generating some “zone time” on the Preds.
  • Nashville ultimately iced the puck at 4:37, and Zetterberg, Mantha and Nyquist were unable to set up in Nashville’s zone, but they did force Nashville to ice the puck.
  • Helm swiped a puck and banged it back to Daley, who ripped a shot into Saros, and while the Predators cleared their zone, Detroit raced back in and banged bodies
  • Nashville then set up with Hartnell, Jarnkrok and Sissons cycling for a moment, but the Nielsen line pushed the puck into the Preds’ zone, Larkin laid out a good bodycheck, and Detroit started chasing the puck and the Preds again.
  • Howard made a sharp stop on Forsberg…
  • Howard stopped Wilson…
  • But the Wings did skate the other way and attack the Preds’ net, with Zetterberg sending a spin shot in on Saros with Mantha and Nyquist near the front of the net.
  • At 6:44, Detroit was out-shooting Nashville 5-3 in the 2nd but was out-shot 18-13 overall; attempts 31-21 Nashville; hits 13-12 Nashville; giveaways 6-3 Detroit; takeaways 2-2; blocked shots 10-3 Detroit; faceoffs 17-9 Nashville (35%).
  • Detroit won the post-TV timeout draw in the Preds’ zone, but a lot of cycling amounted to nothing, and Kronwall and Witkowski helped Glendening, Frk and Bertuzzi get to center ice–three times–with Nashville countering every time.
  • A Glendening turnover ultimately yielded a Bertuzzi swipe and a Larkin-to-Tatar pass that was blocked…
  • Jensen walked the line laterally and pumped a puck into Jarnkrok…
  • DeKeyser and Jensen did a fine job pinching without compromising the team defensively…
  • Nielsen fed Athanasiou on the rush, and Saros fielded the puck like a baseball player.
  • Detroit won the offensive zone draw and a blocked Daley shot still rolled to Abdelkader down low, and Abby spun around the net and jammed the puck into Saros’ pads on the glove side.
  • 9:12 into the 2nd, the Wings were forcing Nashville to ice the puck, and while Detroit’s offensive pushes were futile, the Wings were at least on somewhat even footing with Nashville in terms of puck possession and zone time.
  • Nyquist, Zetterberg and Glendening worked together on a right-side offensive zone faceoff and won it, Nashville dumped the puck down, and Daley got a glove shot on Saros…

And in a WILD sequence of events, Tomas Tatar could not stop Viktor Arvidsson from skating into the Wings’ zone on a breakaway, and Howard stopped the shot, but the Predators chose to change, Athanasiou was fed the puck and he deked and dangled and scored on Saros.

Athanasiou made it 2-1 from Larkin at 10:12.

  • At 10:24, Detroit was out-shooting Nashville 9-3 in the 2nd and the shots were 18-17 Nashville overall; attempts 31-27 Nashville; hits 15-14 Detroit; giveaways 6-3 Detroit, takeaways 3-2 Detroit; blocked shots 10-5 Detroit; faceoffs 20-12 Nashville (38%).
  • Off the post-TV timeout faceoff, Kronwall blasted a heavy shot wide of Saros as Bertuzzi, Glendening and Abdelkader worked together, and the Wings re-entered the zone, Glendening got a shot off, and Nashville attacked 4-on-3.
  • Watson’s shot was blocked by Kronwall, Detroit counter-attacked, and Bertuzzi chipped and changed.
  • Nyquist and Zetterberg also connected for a chance, but Nashville raced up the other way, and DeKeyser made a great block of a Subban pass, Detroit countered, and Zetterberg’s centering pass was blocked out of play.
  • Abdelkader was double-shifted, skating with Nielsen and Helm, and halfway through the game, a penalty was whistled off a pile-up in the corner…

And Alexei Emelin grabbed the puck and pulled it into himself, yielding a delay of game penalty at 12:40.

  • The Preds won the offensive zone draw and cleared the zone, and boy, did they make the Wings struggle to push the puck into the Preds’ zone.
  • 30 seconds into the PP, the Wings had possession and control, but Tatar’s pass was blocked away, Larkin set up with Abdelkader, AA, Kronwall and Tatar, Athanasiou DANGLED with Abdelkader occupying the Preds’ defense and Saros made a huge stop.
  • Zetterberg drew in with 52 seconds remaining in the PP, and Nashville won the draw, banging the puck down ice. DeKeyser fed the puck to Nyquist, he fumbled it at the Preds’ line, and Subban ate clock…
  • But Detroit set up…
  • And Nashville cleared the puck down to Howard.
  • The PP was a bit of a mess.
  • Zetterberg battled the puck in deep for Frk, he found Nyquist, and Nyquist was STONED BY SAROS.
  • At 14:43, Detroit was out-shooting Nashville 12-3 in the 2nd and 20-18 overall; attempts 33-32 Detroit; hits 16-15 Detroit; giveaways 6-3 Detroit, takeaways 3-3; blocked shots 11-7 Detroit; faceoffs 22-15 Nashville (41%).
  • After the TV timeout, Jensen fed Nielsen for a slot shot on Saros…
  • Glendening’s line had more trouble getting the puck out of their own zone, but Ericsson helped them clear…
  • Jensen got held up, Nashville raced in 3-on-2, Josi slid the puck to Johansen, and Howard STONED Johansen on the breakaway chance.
  • Detroit was working harder and smarter as the 2nd period began to wind down, but the Wings needed to get some offense going.
  • The truth of the matter was that Nashville was still making it hard for the Wings to get through center ice, and Nashville’s excellent defense…
  • Checked the hell out of the Wings DESPITE Athanasiou firing a Saros rebound JUST wide of the goalpost.
  • Mantha returned to the ice with Zetterberg and Nyquist after a bit of a benching for big #39, and Detroit and Nashville sort of hit pause for a couple of minutes, playing at center ice and firing harmless shots around the perimeter…
  • Nashville raced in 2-on-2, and Howard made a BIG stop on Turris as he beat Ericsson and Daley to the puck…
  • Nashville hit the gas, and Turris fed Emelin, he fired a shot into the corner, and Ericsson flipped the puck 3 zones wide to Abdelkader, but he was checked hard…
  • Larkin and Tatar took over with Athanasiou, the clock kept ticking down, and Jensen got tied up, Jarnkrok circled the net, found Ekholm, Bonino found Hartnell in front and Howard made a big stop.
  • Nashville’s D pinched hard, Bonino’s point shot was kicked away by Howard, and Detroit cleared, with Zetterberg joining the fray…
  • Nashville continued to attack, but Zetterberg charged up with 25 remaining in the 2nd, Nyquist helped cycle to the point, Mantha boomed a shot into Preds shin pads, and the 2nd period ended with Howard stopping a long shot.

The 2nd period in summary: The Red Wings responded to Nashville’s tremendous 1st with a very solid 2nd period, out-shooting Nashville 14-6, getting the 2-1 goal on an Athanasiou breakaway and receiving very solid goaltending from Jimmy Howard. The Wings still needed to tie the game, but Detroit had managed to dig in and grab a foothold in an uphill battle.

Statistically, Detroit out-shot Nashville 14-7 in the 2nd and the shots were tied 22-22 overall after 2 periods; attempts were 38-35 Nashville; hits 19-17 Nashville; giveaways 7-4 Detroit, takeaways 3-3 (possession changes 10-7 Nashville); blocked shots 13-7 Detroit; faceoffs 24-18 Nashville (43% for Detroit).

Individually, Daley led the Wings with 4 shots; Athanasiou had 3, Nyquist, Witkowski, Zetterberg, DeKeyser and Larkin 2; Abdelkader led the Wings with 6 hits and Witkowski had 4; Nyquist had 2 giveaways, as did Larkin; Nyquist, Glendening and Ericsson had takeaways; Kronwall blocked 3 shots, Glendening and Daley 2; Glendening’s 5-and-4 (56%) led the Wings in the faceoff circle; Detroit remained at -5 collectively; Daley led the Wings with 14:52 played; Ericsson and Jensen played 13:41; Kronwall 12:56, Larkin 12:46, DeKeyser 12:10, Athanasiou 12:01, Abdelkader 11:36, Zetterberg 11:22.

The 3rd period

3rd period observations:

  • Nielsen drew in for the opening faceoff opposite Johansen and the Predators won the draw, chipped the puck into the Wings’ zone, and Howard played the puck to Ericsson. Detroit chipped and the puck was hacked into the crowd by Abdelkader.
  • Nashville set up and Detroit countered off the faceoff, with Mantha walking in and firing a TREMENDOUS shot in on Saros, who booted out a rebound just wide of Nyquist.
  • Mantha fired another shot in on Saros and he booted that one out, too…
  • And Mantha’s third shot of the shift was a long slapper from about 50 feet out. Saros stopped that one, too.
  • The Preds took over and set up in the Wings’ zone, and Howard had to make a massive stop on Josi through some nasty traffic.
  • Nashville won the ensuing faceoff and Ericsson made a big shot block, and he played the puck up for Tatar. Detroit re-set at center, Howard had to sweep a shot into the corner, and Detroit’s turnover yielded yet another Howard stop.
  • Larkin raced into the Preds’ zone, slid a puck toward the slot, and ultimately Witkowski got the shot off, and Saros made an easy stop.
  • Nashville was fully engaged–as were the Red Wings–and the teams were going toe-to-toe offensively, trading big chances.
  • Detroit’s turnovers remained a problem…
  • Zetterberg chased Subban out of the “pocket” behind his net, and Detroit took the Preds’ dump-in and fed Mantha for his fourth shot of the period, which Saros STOPPED.
  • Zetterberg then ripped a shot wide of the net, Detroit re-set at center, and Jensen pinched, with Abdelkader, Nyquist and Glendening working to grind the puck out along the Preds’ boards.

But Ericsson made a terrible play in allowing Arvidsson to skate past him as the puck bounced over Ericsson’s stick, and Arvidsson shot the puck over Howard to make it 3-1.

 Arvidsson scored at 4:50 to make it 3-1 Nashville. Subban and Ellis assisted.

  • Detroit faced a 2-goal deficit again.
  • To their credit, Athanasiou, Larkin and Tatar worked their asses off in the offensive zone…
  • But Witkowski made a fumble, the Predators raced in 2-on-1, and Watson ran over Howard en route to shoveling the puck through him.

There was no goal on the play, and Watson ran over Howard, yielding a Wings power play at 5:48.

  • The Red Wings lost the initial deep offensive zone faceoff, and Kronwall performed that stupid drop pass to Nyquist, who found Zetterberg.
  • Detroit set up on the PP with 1:35 remaining, Frk found Mantha, he worked to Nyquist down low, the Wings cycled on the perimeter, Zetterberg gave and went with Kronwall and then Frk, Zetterberg centered the puck for Nyquist, no dice, Nyquist re-set right wing half boards, Frk found Kronwall and he blasted a deflected shot out of play.
  • With 52 seconds remaining in the PP, Larkin, Athanasiou, Abdelkader, Tatar and Daley took over. They scrambled the faceoff but lost possession of the puck, and Detroit had to re-enter the zone.
  • Abdelkader dropped to Daley, Larkin swept and worked to Abdelkader, he could not finish, and Larkin fed Tatar at the line, Larkin fired a shot through traffic, as did Tatar…

The puck lay near the goal, Abdelkader, Larkin, Tatar and Athanasiou jammed the puck loose, and Tatar scored the power play marker to make it 3-2.

 Tatar scored at 7:54 from Athanasiou and Abdelkader…

But Nashville CHALLENGED for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice stood.

  • Nashville won the post-goal draw but up came Nielsen, and he blasted a heavy shot wide of Saros, Helm cycled, and the Preds’ flip play resulted in nothing but an icing against Detroit.
  • Nashville won the deep offensive zone draw, and Johansen, Forsberg and Watson worked over Helm, Nielsen and Bertuzzi, cycling and buzzing and working the perimeter, but Detroit did a nice job of blocking shots, and Nielsen was able to chip and Detroit changed, with Nyquist coming on ice, beating 3 defenders, and sending a rolling puck in on Saros.
  • Saros made the stop.
  • with 10:30 remaining in regulation, Zetterberg, Nyquist and Mantha worked the puck very well down low, but they could not really set up offensively…
  • And ultimately, Ericsson, Zetterberg, Daley and Nyquist all battled the Preds’ full-court press.
  • Detroit attacked the Predators’ zone with 9:05 remaining, Athanasiou and Larkin fed Tatar, he fumbled the puck all alone, and Larkin found Jensen, whose shot was blocked heavily by Ellis. He went to the bench in pain.
  • Detroit continued to battle in the offensive zone as Nielsen’s line took over, and Helm and Abdelkader had a good shift.
  • With 8 minutes remaining in regulation, and Detroit down by 1 goal, Zetterberg, Mantha and Nyquist worked the puck deep, Jensen held it in, and Nashville chipped and chased.
  • It still hurts to see Calle Jarnkrok in a Predators uniform, but that’s me.
  • Nashville was still finding holes in Detroit’s coverage, however, so Howard had to make a big stop on Fiala…
  • And with 6:45 remaining/at 13:15, a TV timeout hit.
  • At 13:15, Detroit was out-shooting Nashville 10-5 in the 3rd and 32-27 overall; attempts 52-50 Detroit; hits 23-18 Nashville; giveaways 7-6 Detroit; takeaways 4-3 Nashville; blocked shots 17-11 Detroit; faceoffs 30-20 Nashville (40%).
  • When play resumed, Glendening got hacked, and like Subban, who was booed for smashing Jensen’s face into the ice, there was no call.
  • Detroit iced the puck with 6:11 remaining, the Wings won the draw, but the offense seemed directionless, and…
  • Nashville started to take over again.
  • The Wings were making weird passes, too, so Detroit was turning the puck over and Nashville was getting zone time.
  • Howard had to make a couple of stops as a result.
  • With 5:28 remaining, the Wings were stuck on 10 shots for the period.
  • Larkin lost the post-TV timeout draw, Nashville cycled, worked the puck to the point, and Glendening, Tatar and Larkin said goodbye to Glendening, hello to Athanasiou, and Tatar got two GREAT chances on Saros.
  • With 4:18 remaining, Detroit out-shot Nashville 12-7 in the period and 34-29 overall; attempts were 58-54 Detroit.
  • When play resumed, the Wings won the draw and cycled, with Mantha, Nyquist and Daley working well, Kronwall found Daley, up the Wings went, and they remained stuck on the perimeter. Mantha got his fifth shot and with 3:39 left, the Wings changed.
  • Nashville was playing rope-a-dope hockey, and they were working very hard to stay in it.
  • Athanasiou, DeKeyser, Jensen, Larkin and Tatar cycled, Larkin found Tatar, who was stopped by Saros, and Nashville iced the puck…
  • Thanks to an Athanasiou “Larry Murphying” of his legs, acting as if the puck was far too far from churning legs to get it.
  • Detroit lost the faceoff, had to re-set, and ultimately, Mantha replaced Helm, and nothing resulted from Nielsen and Abdelkader’s cycling.
  • DETROIT PULLED JIMMY HOWARD with 2:15 remaining…
  • And the Predators dumped Athanasiou, sans call, Zetterberg battled, Ellis flipped the puck down ice, Kronwall found Nyquist, he roared in and fired the puck wide, and Nashville dumped.
  • Mantha was the last man back (eek) and Detroit changed, with Mantha flipping the puck and chasing it, and Nashville clearing it for an icing with 1:15 remaining.
  • Glendening drew in with Abdelkader, Nielsen, Larkin, Frk and Daley, and Arvidsson lay on the puck at the Preds’ blueline.
  • Zetterberg, Nyquist, Mantha, Abdelkader, Kronwall and Athanasiou ground the puck out down low, Mantha fed the front of the net but the puck went wide, Kronwall and Athanasiou kicked the puck deep, Zetterberg tried to feed the slot, Subban got bumped down, and Detroit jammed at the puck…

And Subban got dumped by Abdelkader, but he retaliated, and with 27.8 remaining in regulation, Subban sat for interference, hacking and whacking his own stick into pieces in the penalty box.

  • AA won the puck to Daley, to Larkin it went, right side to left, Zetterberg dealt with a hopping puck to Tatar, Zetterberg shot and missed, Larkin fell on his own, Tatar fired, his shot was blocked, and that was the game.

The 3rd period in summary: Detroit ran out of time. They rallied from Arvidsson’s breakaway goal with a Tatar marker on a scrum, and the Wings crashed and banged with good poise as the Predators cranked things up physically, but the Red Wings simply could not beat Saros for that game-tying goal.

Detroit ultimately out-shot Nashville 14-7 in the 3rd and 36-29 overall, and the Wings fired another 29 attempts toward the Preds’ net, but they could not score.

Statistics:

Here’s the Game Summary…

And the Event Summary: 


The final attempts were 65-54 Detroit.

Published by

George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!