Goc Scores Shootout Winner, Preds End Five-Game Losing Streak

By Amanda DiPaolo

Marcel Goc scored the shootout winner in the fourth round to break the Predators five-game losing streak(Photo: Yardbarker.com)

Thursday night, the Nashville Predators took on the St. Louis Blues in their attempt to snap a five-game losing streak and it took a shootout to do it.

St. Louis was coming off an 8-1 loss in Columbus on Wednesday night. The Blues were looking for home ice advantage to help them bounce back from a game Wednesday night where it seemed every shot from the Blue Jackets found the back of the net. St. Louis went into Thursday night’s game with a 6-0-0 record at Scottrade Center this season. The Blues also had a 13 game home winning streak on the line extending back to last season.

The first period wasn’t too eventful. Steve Sullivan received the only penalty of the period, a delay of game call for putting the puck over the glass. The Blues opened the scoring at 18:22 of the first period. David Backes scored his second goal of the season on a wrist shot from Andy McDonald and Vladmir Sobotka.

Nashville tied the game up at 13:44 of the second period. Francis Bouillon shot the puck on net and the rebound was picked up by Cal O’Reilly who was able to put the puck behind Jaroslav Halak. It was O’Reilly’s third goal of the season. Bouillon and Sullivan picked up the assists.

The Predators had over 1:30 of five on three man advantage at the end of the second period but were unable to convert. Jay McClement was sent to the box for cross-checking Patric Hornqvist. During the penalty kill, Eric Brewer was called for a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass in the defending zone. Nashville had no scoring chances on the two-man advantage. The inability to score on the 5-on-3 could have been the difference maker in the game, but the Predators did not let the momentum swing back to the Blues.

The Blues retook the lead at 5:54 of the third period. During four on four action, with Alex Steen and JP Dumont in the box for roughing, Matt D’Agostini went up the left wing, cut in and beat Rinne low with a wrist shot to take the 2-1 lead.

Just two minutes after the Blues took the lead, the Predators found themselves down a man when Shea Weber was called for charging at 8:24 of the third period. After the whistle, D’Agostini and Hornqvist were each called for roughing. Nashville was able to kill off the penalty.

With less than 7 minutes left in the third period, Dumont scored a goal on the backhand to tie the game at 2 with his second goal of the season.

With a minute and a half to go, Pekka Rinne made the save of the game when he got his left leg out to stop Left leg save on Sobotka to send the game to overtime.

Alex Sulzer was called for tripping at 3:41 of the overtime period, knocking down Steen. The power play gave the Blues a 4-3 man advantage. Nashville was able to kill off the rest of the time on the clock.

The Predators went to a shootout for the first time of the season. The Blues decided to shoot first.

D’Agostini shot first and scored on the stick side of Rinne.

Cal O’Reilly shot first for Nashville and scored high glove on Halak.

Brad Boyes shot second for St. Louis and was stopped by Rinne.

Sullivan shot second for Nashville and was denied by the glove of Halak.

Andy McDonald shot third for the Blues and Rinne stopped him with the right pad.

Nashville had the chance to put it away if they scored on their third shooter.

David Legwand shot on the blocker side by Halak foiled his attempt.

Entering sudden death, Patrick Burglund shot for St. Louis and Rinne was able to put the attempt.

Marcel Goc was up for Nashville and ended the game for Nashville sliding the puck around the right leg of Halak.

Rinne picked up the win, with 21 saves.

Additional Game notes:

After being scratched on Sunday in Anaheim, Sergei Kostitsyn played 16:30, but had no shots on goal. He was sixth amongst forwards for total ice time.

The Predators are now 2 for their last 42 attempts on the man advantage.

Next, Nashville takes on the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena for the first time since game six of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Game time is 7 pm CT.

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