… This one was far closer than it should have been. The Wings got thirty more shots on net than Nashville did, but didn’t put the game out of reach until the final minute. It wasn’t goaltending. It was a casual attitude about finishing the job, an attitude the Predators picked up on and exploited. It could have easily been 5-4 Nashville.
Throughout the second period, the game was far too wide open as the Wings relaxed their grip. I’m not sure what happened, but the team obviously lost focus for a while. Fortunately, they were able to snap back to focus before the Preds stole one.
… I had no idea who the heck Joel Ward was before tonight, but you can bet I won’t forget how easily he beat Brian Rafalski on his second of the night. He also caught Conklin flat footed and beat him to the right post on a play that brought the Predators within one for the second time.
… Marian Hossa continues to make his case as the winner of the Franzen vs. Hossa contest. Every game Franzen is out due to injury increases Hossa’s value in my mind. I’m a big Franzen fan, but he’s shown a tendency to injury, whereas Hossa’s consistent presence in the lineup isn’t that far off from Lidstrom’s.
Hossa has lately been a one-man show out there, with Leino and Filppula playing keep up at times. I’m leaning more towards hoping the Wings sign him every game, as long as he takes a reasonable salary, of course.
… Pavel Datsyuk also had a strong night: two goals (one empty-netter) and plenty of perfect examples of why he’s such a great player. He does so many little things that just wow you on a nightly basis that it’s difficult to appreciate just how complete a player he really is.
… It was good to see Henrik Zetterberg notch a couple and reach 20 goals on the season. Here’s hoping he can pick up the pace a bit and finish with 15+ more.
… Leino still looks good, but Helm was more noticeable tonight. Both players would make any other team in the NHL, no problem.
… Steve Sullivan obviously has a ways to go in his return to the NHL. He was dangerous in spots, but is not the same player he once was.
… Pekke Rinne looks like the real deal. Of course, so did Dan Ellis.
… The Predators shot themselves in the foot a number of times by taking bad penalties. The Wings only capitalized twice, but the disruption in their line rolling definitely made a comeback more difficult.
… At the other end of things, I’m going to mark down one power play goal against as a relapse in penalty killing for the Wings. Remember, the Predators had the 29th ranked power play heading in to the game.
… Conklin looked pretty sharp overall and didn’t stand much chance on two of the Predators’ three goals (both long and though crowds), but my guess is he sits Thursday.
… The Wings will have to be more focused against Minnesota. If they don’t hold on to a lead against the Wild, they risk losing it altogether, even with all their offensive talent.
They’ve still got work to do.