GDT: WCSF Game 1: Preds at Sharks Old Man and the Sea Edition

[Bringer of Jollity]

We look tired and they look fresh and I just don't see how we overcome that. Feels like Game 2 is is vital for us or we're out in 4 or 5. Also think that 1st goal was a backbreaker and Rinne should have that short-side covered up.

 

[drwpreds]

So what's the deal with Rinne at the end? Hutton finished the game and per Twitter Rinne talking to trainer.....

Please no...

 

[klt2001]

Well I blame the loss on Smitty not playing. Hoping he is playing in the next game.

 

[Scoresberg]

So what's the deal with Rinne at the end? Hutton finished the game and per Twitter Rinne talking to trainer.....

Please no...

He looked odd after that 3rd goal and when they pulled him he skated to the bench really slow.

 

[klt2001]

So what's the deal with Rinne at the end? Hutton finished the game and per Twitter Rinne talking to trainer.....

Please no...

Hopefully it's just a pulled muscle from stretching too far on that Ward goal.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

He looked odd after that 3rd goal and when they pulled him he skated to the bench really slow.

The attempt to save the Ward goal was awkward, though no idea if that had anything to do with it.

 

[Buffalo Preds]

Going to just have to shake this game off and move on to the next one. But they are going to have to play better offensively or they aren't going to get far in this series. Sharks just look better offensively.

They were way better offensively, and it'll be hard to overcome that, but we won't be able to slow them down if we get beat to almost every puck, or can't find that extra concentration to keep possession late in the game. I'm inclined to chalk the late collapse tonight up to fatigue, but we're not gonna be able to absorb pressure for 30-40 minutes and frustrate SJ like we did with Anaheim. They're not that kind of team.

 

[Scoresberg]

That's what you get when your goalie has to carry your ***es for three games straight.

 

[drwpreds]

Hopefully it's just a pulled muscle from stretch too far on that Ward goal.

I don't know- a pulled muscle could easily cause a goalie to miss time

 

[klt2001]

Peter Lav didn't seem too happy in that press conference; was pretty much short when asked about why Craig Smith didn't play in tonight's game and said the Preds players could have played better. Personally I thought the Preds played good especially defensively (except towards the second half of the third period) but just didn't get much going offensively. Definitely going to need to pick up the pace and play more aggressively offensively cause they can score quickly when they pick up the pace and start throwing pucks and getting traffic to the net like they did on their second goal but just didn't do that until the game got away from them. They need to not wait until they are down to make a push and get going offensively. Need to do that while they have the lead.

 

[klt2001]

I don't know- a pulled muscle could easily cause a goalie to miss time

True but that's better than a tear or something worse. Hoping it just something minor.

 

[drwpreds]

I see there is already some crazy overreactions going on here, but I don't feel all that bad about this game.

We obviously, and justifiably, were worn out; Sharks were rested and played a great game, especially last two periods. And yet it was a 3-2 game with 1:30 left.

That's not that bad- now to just regroup and come back strong...

 

[cleangene63]

Checking the Metro Nashville Police blog and there is an APB out for one Filip Forseberg.

 

[klt2001]

Checking the Metro Nashville Police blog and there is an APB out for one Filip Forseberg.

Definitely wasn't Forsberg game tonight but one of his weakest imo.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

well...

that escalated rather quickly

 

[MrMariusz]

Typical case of tired vs fresh legs as became obvious in the second half of the third period. The Sharks will slow down a bit in the coming games. We don't need to sweep them away from home, let's just focus on winning on our own turf first, anything else is a bonus.

 

[TitansVolsPreds615]

Definitely wasn't Forsberg game tonight but one of his weakest imo.

He has been bad the entire post season. Trying to do way too much.

 

[deanwormer]

He has been bad the entire post season. Trying to do way too much.

That's just not true.... he has been bad since game 4 - he was fine with a healthy Smith, and didn't start pressing so much until it absolutely fell apart in game 3.

Rib's is useless without 2 dangerous wings - he hurts us on D, he doesn't look to score, and Flip just presses more with him. The most talented scorer of the grinders is probably Watson - clearly the best hands anyway. I'm not sure you can skate him on the 2nd and I hate to mess with the 3rd, but he probably needs to be on the ice if we aren't gonna' have Smitty. Who knows, maybe this is why Poile called Aberg up - knows Smitty can't go and we gotta' have someone can put the puck on net.

 

[Smashville Stroke]

We probably blew our best chance to take one of the first two. They came out a little off of their game, and we just couldn't capitalize on the good chances. Hopefully Smith can come back and make an impact. And please let Pekka be alright!

 

[bdub24]

Fire Lavy! Rinne sucks! Trade Weber! Arvy falls down! We're doomed!

Did I miss anything?

 

[SlapshotMe]

Fire Lavy! Rinne sucks! Trade Weber! Arvy falls down! We're doomed!

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, offense. The last time we got to 3 goals was 5 games ago (I'm not counting empty netters). But hey, offense is never talked about on these forums so I guess you were right to exclude it.

 

[WartracePred]

He has been bad the entire post season. Trying to do way too much.

He misses Smitty. Smith's speed creates space for Forsberg. And Forsberg hasn't played enough with Joey and Neal to have much chemistry.