Good job, Predators! We have a series.
With the expansion draft coming up and teams only being able to protect one goalie I thought the “unprotected” Murray or Fleury would be an obvious choice for Vegas.
However in most mock drafts I’ve seen they’re not even mentioned.
I mostly see Grubauer(Caps), Smith(Coyotes), Hutton(Blues), Raanta(NYR), Korpisala(Jackets), and Subban(Bruins).
Are neither of these guys supposedly more valuable than these other teams back-ups?
I no piss all about hockey except for a basic understanding of the objectives and rules of the game, which are similar to soccer.
I’ve only been following passively but it seems like Nashville has been the dominant team, and this was true even in the first game that they lost. They controlled the puck but for whatever reason just had shit luck when it came to shooting and defending shots on goal. But when one team controls the other, over time, those averages do have a way of taking over. It just seems to me that, relying strictly on the Joe Blow casual sports fan eye test, Nashville seems like the better team.
The only sports analogy that I can think of that might apply favorably to Pittsburgh is that in the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, the ‘better’ team, Sacramento, had the defending champion L.A. Lakers on the ropes for much of that series, and still managed to lose in a 7th game overtime. That might be where this series is headed: either Nashville wins out in 6 games, or Pittsburgh uses its championship smarts and resilience to outwit and make clutch plays despite struggling.
For someone who knows (BTW note spelling of knows) “piss all about hockey”, asahi, you have a very good grasp of where this series is headed. I hope it’s Nashville on the winning edge but it’s fun either way. Sir Charles is right.
Your assessment is pretty much spot on.
Puck possession, in the long run, is the best indicator of which team is better, but on any given night, luck can win out over skill. In Game 1, the Penguins were REALLY lucky.
That said, don’t be too shocked if you see a very different Penguins team in Game 5. They didn’t win the Stanley Cup last year and make it this far 'cause they’re a bunch of bums.
I no piss all about spelling, too. 
I think Nashville should go old school and get Dolly to do the anthem for game 6.
Failing that, maybe David Cross.
Report back from Smashtown.
(I know that if you are not a Preds fans you probably find the word annoying.)
What an experience! You feel it in the airport after you land and it just gets more intense as you get to the city. Nashville is totally into the event and is doing all they can to provide a great party for the fans. They closed Broadway and set up a huge stage and screen to televise the game outdoors. They are selling beer on the street. The crowd is responding accordingly by giving it a festive atmosphere, not an excuse to get drunk and cause trouble.
Hard to explain the experience inside the arena except that it’s everything you might imagine and more. It gets LOUD in there. I mean ear splitting LOUD! It’s just a great bunch of fans who are thoroughly enjoying themselves. If you are an “A” lister and you are in Nashville, Bridgestone Arena is the place to be. The Predators have taken a huge step in cementing a bond with country music. It’s as if NASCAR is soooo yesterday. Hockey is now the cool guy!
Asahi may not know piss about hockey but his perception is spot on. About two minutes into the third period I wanted to say to my son that it looked like Nashville was chopping down the Pens bit by bit. (I held my tongue because I didn’t want to jinx them.) The Pens looked tired and confused. The split second that makes a difference about puck possession almost always went to the Preds. I would not want to be a Pens player when the coach reviews the replays in the team meeting. It couldn’t have been a fun or pretty meeting.
We are four games into the series. Those inexperienced Preds players now have experience and know that they can win. Moe is sitting on the Preds bench. It’s far from over but the Pens have to hit the ice with a very different team than the one that showed up on Tuesday if they want to win. Right now they look like a boxer that his slumped in his corner after a few very tough rounds.
Go Preds! If nothing else, the fans have gone to the end of the earth and deserve to see the promised land.
BTW, CMA Fest starts Thursday in Nashville. This is a huge event in its own right. Can’t imagine what the city will be like with these two huge events going on simultaneously.
Nice post, and good to hear about all the enthusiasm! I’m rooting for the Preds for various reasons – underdogs, Pens are the bad guys who defeated Ottawa – though it took them 7 games to do it – and P.K. Subban, for whom a Stanley Cup win would be sweet revenge after his disgraceful treatment in Montreal.
Isn’t it “Smashville”? “Smashtown” doesn’t make any sense.
I stand corrected. Brain fart.
Bonnaroo is this weekend, too. Not downtown, of course, but still a large influx of very diverse folks in town.
StG
Did I mention that I have tickets to the NHL Awards show?
I haven’t decided if I’m gonna wear my Elmira Jackals jersey or my Miskatonic University jersey.
Way cool!
Pivotal game tonight. Let’s see if Nashville can win on the road.
It’s just amazing how well both of these teams play in their own buildings and how poorly they both play on the road.
Astounding, isn’t it. Amazing what home ice advantage has meant in this series.
Don Cherry said that whoever wins this game will win the series. So, it all over now. 
Ya know, I’ve never been a fan of Rinne, so I was glad they finally took him out, but if Saros isn’t going to pay attention, they might as well just forfeit now and let everyone get some sleep.
Well that was a steaming cup of awful.