Friday Five: Top Moments from the 2016-17 Season
Honorable Mention: Calle Järnkrok Scores Short-handed OT Game Winner
One of the most underrated moments from this past season occurred on January 10th. Calle Järnkrok got the short-handed game winner in overtime, but the implications of this moment were just as, if not more, important than the goal itself.
The month of December was less than impressive for Nashville. The club went a meager 5-6-3, and was looking for a way to turn things around at the start of the new year. The Preds’ woes would continue, depleted with injuries, losing three of their first four games in 2017. Then, Vancouver came to town.
The first period saw both teams swap chances. At one point, Forsberg redirected a shot from the point that beat Miller, but the goal was waved off due to a high stick. The play was reviewed but the call stood. The game remained scoreless into the first intermission. Austin Watson was finally able to beat Miller early in the second when he stuffed home a rebound off of the boards.
Rinne’s wall
For the next 38 minutes Pekka Rinne played some of his best hockey of the season. But with about 50 seconds left in the game Vancouver capitalized with their extra attacker on the ice. Sutter was able to squeak a goal through Rinne’s 5-hole, and this game had the feeling of another letdown. The game went to overtime and 20 seconds in Roman Josi was able to put one past Miller, only to have it waved off as well. It was determined that there was goaltender interference and the goal would not count. This was the second time in the game that Nashville had a goal waved off and it appeared to be very symbolic of the Predators’ season up to this point.
The game would go on and Nashville found themselves on the penalty kill to close out the overtime period. At this point, it is safe to say the fans were bracing for heartbreak. But then it happened. Roman Josi blocked a shot down low, managed to kick it out to himself, and skated down ice side-by-side with Calle Järnkrok. These two managed to break out for 2 on 0 breakaway as time ticked down. Josi passed the puck to Järnkrok, who fired a shot past the goaltender with 1.5 seconds left on the clock.
The team that had been struggling for over a month, somehow pulled out a victory from the jaws of defeat and sent everyone home happy. The success would continue, also. Nashville went 6-1-1 to close out the month of January. And the rest is history.