In what could be a true battle for last place in the Central Division, the Nashville Predators face off with the Detroit Red Wings for the first time this season.
This game is all about the Predators navigating around their growing injured reserve list that leaves them without Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Johansen, Mathieu Olivier and Brad Richardson.
With these players missing, the Predators are getting that youth into the starting lineup. Follow along live on this thread with us as we look for the Predators to stop the bleeding and get a win over an old rival.
1st Period
Pekka Rinne will get the start tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. There has been some uncertainty on who will start in net for the Predators following a couple days off. In net for the Red Wings is 35-year-old veteran Thomas Greiss, who already has 11 starts this season but just one win in regulation.
Filip Forsberg to an early scoring chance thanks to a turnover. Tough angle to get the shot cleanly. Teams are kind of feeling each other out right now.
Griess just had to make a really difficult save on Forsberg who was skating freely down the slot.
Rinne with his first big save of the night. We reamin scoreless with 14:28 left in the 1st period.
Predators putting all sorts of offensive pressure on Griess, but he’s already made a few really solid saves to keep the scoreboard at zeros. Roman Josi had a really strong chance.
Both teams have had strong looks to score, but the Predators are slightly holding control of possession and spending more time in the offensive zone. Which goaltender blinks first will be huge.
Dante Fabbro was kind of in a bad spot defending and takes the tripping penalty. Predators go on the penalty kill tied at 0-0.
The Detroit power play is killed off by the Predators. Very solid penalty kill. In return, Fabbro comes out of the box and sets up Matt Duchene to draw the penalty.
What a gorgeous power play goal from the Predators! Everyone on the same page, and eventually Ryan Ellis receives the puck that score! Assists from Forsberg and Josi!
Red Wings settle in on the Nashville zone and we’re now tied 1-1 in the closing seconds of the 1st period. A defensive lapse from the Predators. Unfortunate and frustrating.
End of the 1st period. Predators let one in late when it appeared they had all of the momentum. Those late goals always hurt a little more.
2nd period
The 2nd period about to start. Predators can’t let that late goal linger. Build off of what worked in that opening period. Plenty more scoring chances should be coming in this period.
Viktor Arvidsson takes a hard spill into the net. Forsberg was trying to set him up for an easy goal.
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The hits are being dealt out now by the Predators. Mark Borowiecki, Eeli Tolvanen and Colton Sissons all getting their hits in in that last sequence.
Tough sequence for Tinordi. Can’t handle a pass and then commits a penalty. Predators to the penalty kill.
What a glove save by Rinne. I was expecting that to be a goal for Detroit as their power play is almost over.
Predators are doing a nice job in this period getting into passing lanes and making it difficult on Detroit to generate offensive zone time.
Predators getting another power play near the midway point of the period.
This power play pretty much had nothing working for it. Quickly after Rinne had to make the save of all saves. Should easily be 2-1 Red Wings at this point.
Not much offense to speak of right now. Game is tied but the momentum feels like it’s shifted to Detroit.
We’re dodging some bullets right now from the Red Wings. Predators have just nine shots on goal nearing six minutes left in the 2nd period.
Tolvanen in that high-danger area and forces Greiss to make the save.
In the closing seconds of the 2nd period Duchene gets loose and sneaks one past Greiss! The primary assist to Calle Jarnkrok! 2-1 Predators.
And just like that, the Red Wings freely skate down the ice to tie it back up. Period ends with the Predators having one last push to score again.
3rd period
Underway in the final period. Tied at 2-2 thanks to two late goals in each period by the Red Wings. Predators have gotten their shot total up to 15 while the Red Wings have 19 on Pekka Rinne.
Inexcusable delay of game penalty taken by Mikael Granlund. Penalty kill time for the Predators at a critical juncture in the game.
Predators just nearly scored shorthanded off the stick of Calle Jarnkrok. Another big save from Greiss.
Power play for the Predators. They just failed on another power play attempt. Getting a chance here to retake the lead and keep it for good. Rinne and Greiss have kept this tied with multiple big saves tonight.
Not much offensive spark from either team in this period so far. Under 8 minutes left in regulation.
Almost another shorthanded goal from the Predators. Erik Haula led the charge that time.
Fabbro gets the pinball goal! Predators have the lead back once again and the Red Wings have emptied their net.
That’s a final score! Predators win 3-2 thanks to Fabbro’s game-winning goal. Needed that one bad.