Losing slide streches to 4th game

"Lets shake it off and let it go/Forgetting what we think we know/We'll make it all a memory/We're taking back control" - We Are The Sound by THE AFTERS

The Predators faced off against Central Division rival Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night at the Sommet Center. In the previous 2 games, the Predators lost to Edmonton and Dallas by scores of 6-1 and 6-0, respectively. There was very little,if anything, positive that could have been taken away from these games, wherein both games the Preds allowed 4 goals early in the opening period and all but took themselves out of the games to begin with. You'll notice an absence of posts for both of these games. I found myself at a loss when I really thought about these games, especially as I re-watched them on the DVR. (I actually wrote a blog post for both of the games in one post, my wife's new kitten managed to climb up on the laptop and somehow erase it... no way I was regurgitating that disappointment.) As the fans prepared for tonight's game, there was an unease with the fans I talked to,and a tentativeness about how the Predators would react to the past 2 games' struggles. The 13,103 that came out to the Sommet Center were encouraged to see the Predators endure the first period without surrendering a goal against, but the struggles offensively remained apparent as the Predators were credited with only 5 shots on goal, none of which went in. For what it's worth, Goc had at least 2 shots ON GOAL that were not counted on the ticker, but regardless, 7 shots in a period still will not suffice. Early in the 2nd, the Blackhawks scored 2 goals 28 seconds apart, and you could just sense the crowds "oh-no, here we go again" anxiety. However, this time instead of crumbling, the Predators quickly responded with Martin Erat finally finding his first of the season in his second game starting on a line with "The Beast" Wilson. Erat must have sensed that just a few hours prior I had picked him up off the waiver wire on my fantasy roster... The crowd, and more importantly, the bench was encouraged by the goal and there was a buzz amongst the fans. That certainly didn't last long as the Predators continued to struggle with getting shots on Huet. Huet has struggled since coming to the Western conference in the summer of 2008, and until they replace him in net, I don't see that they will have the performances needed between the pipes for legitimate cup contention. That said, if you don't get the shots to him, he doesn't have to stop them. The struggles continued throughout the 3rd, with the Preds mustering two shots on net for the period. TWO!!! Neither of these found the net, and the Preds eventually dropped the decision to the Hawks by a final of 3-1, having been outshot 30-13.

My thoughts on the game: Where the heck was the first line? JP Dumont declared himself fit for play early in the afternoon, and was back in the lineup after having missed 10 days of action on the Injured Reserve list with concussion-like symptoms. That line has easily been the most "dangerous" of the Predators, having scored all individual goals for the season.  Tonight the line of Sully, Arnie and JP combined for just 2 shots on net, and looked lethargic at times. Arnott has never been known for throwing his big body around, but he twice tonight pulled up instead of finishing his checks along the board. As I heard one lady so eloquently state it tonight, "Arnott when you play half-a**, the team plays half-a**." Colin Wilson got his first NHL start tonight, centering a line with Erat and Ward on the wings. I thought this line was easily the most active and potent tonight, with Erat eventually getting the Predators only goal. Wilson hasn't yet been on the scoresheet, but considering no one else has either, I think his hunger has been there and was good in the face-off circle, as the only Predator to win over 50%, taking 7 of 12 draws. Goc was back in the lineup after Trotz scratched him last night feeling like he wasn't getting enough "pop" from the former Shark. I felt like Goc had gotten the message, with a team high 3 shots on net (and the 2 not counted) and treated the crowd to flash of stick-handling skills. Defensively, the Predators held a very offensive-minded Blackhawks team to 30 shots on goal, which is almost 7 shots less than they average. Considering our last 2 games' defensive breakdowns... it's a start.

I'd be interested to learn what you took away from the game tonight. Feel encouraged to hit up the comments section below. Until next time, - Big Kev