Predators/Flames 12/27/05

[preds24]

Predators-Flames Preview

GAME: Nashville Predators (23-7-3) at Calgary Flames (21-11-4).

TIME: Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST.

The Nashville Predators hope to run their winning streak to six games as their five-game road trip continues against the Calgary Flames.

The Predators have played well offensively during the win streak, totaling 26 goals. More impressive is the balanced offensive production. Fifteen players have scored goals in the last five games, with Steve Sullivan totaling a team-high nine points with four goals and five assists.
Nashville went into the holiday break with consecutive road wins against Central Division opponents following its 5-4 victory Friday at Columbus. Paul Kariya had three first-period assists as the Predators built a 4-2 lead, and goaltender Tomas Vokoun stopped 26 of 28 shots over the final 40 minutes to preserve the win.
"It's a win and they're not always going to be perfect games," said Vokoun, who finished with 35 saves. "They were better than us but we found a way to win."
Defenseman Kimmo Timmonen has seven assists during his five-game points streak, and the Predators have gone 9-for-39 on the power play in that span. Nashville, which has the league's fifth-best power-play unit on the road, is 14-for-52 (26.9 percent) in its last seven road games with the man advantage.

This is the first of a three-game swing against Northwest Division opponents for Nashville, which also plays Wednesday at Vancouver and Friday at Edmonton.

The Flames moved into a tie atop the Northwest with a home-and-home sweep of the Vancouver Canucks. Robyn Regehr snapped a 1-1 deadlock with a power-play goal midway through the third period as Calgary showed it could win a tight defensive game less than 72 hours after winning a 6-5 shootout over Vancouver.

Calgary has the fourth-best home penalty-killing unit, conceding just three goals in 28 chances the last five games.

Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff is 12-3-2 with four shutouts, 1.60 goals-against average and .933 save percentage at home this season.

STANDINGS (through Dec. 26): Predators - 49 points, 2nd place, 2 PB, Central Division. Flames - 46 points, 1st place (tied), Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Predators - Sullivan, 16 goals; Kimmo Timonen, 22 assists; Sullivan and Kariya, 33 points; Darcy Hordichuk, 87 PIM. Flames - Jarome Iginla, 15 goals, 15 assists and 30 points; Jason Wiemer, 65 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Dec. 26): Predators - Power play: 19.2 percent (43 for 224), tied for 6th in NHL. Penalty killing: 86 percent (191 for 222), 3rd. Flames - Power play: 16.3 percent (36 for 221), 17th. Penalty killing: 82.4 percent (183 for 222), tied for 14th.

GOALTENDERS: Predators - Vokoun (18-5-2, 1 SO, 2.52 GAA); Chris Mason (4-1-1, 0, 2.81). Flames - Kiprusoff (18-10-4, 5, 2.27); Philippe Sauve (3-1-0, 0, 2.32).

SEASON SERIES: Predators, 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Nov. 29; Predators, 2-0. At Nashville, Tenn., Vokoun made 31 saves for his lone shutout this season, and Vernon Fiddler had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who killed off six Flames' power plays.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Predators - 7-4-3 on the road; Flames - 12-3-2 at home.


I am soooo ready for some hockey tonight!!
Let's go PREDATORS!!

http://www.nhl.com/scores/previews/539_2_preview.html

[preds24]

Pagal, what's your input on this game?? :)

[preds24]

FIGHT!

Sullivan was face down on the ice then the fight....

don't know what happened (I was getting my popcorn)

[preds24]

crap! They are helping sullivan off the ice straight to the dressing room.

Sullivan was turning blindly and right into the stick of Lombardi...


05:17 PENALTY NSH - 14 TOOTOO, Roughing, 2 min
1 05:17 PENALTY CGY - 19 KOBASEW, Roughing, 2 min
1 05:17 PENALTY NSH - 94 PERREAULT, Roughing, 2 min

[preds24]

Nilson scores for the Flames

Flames 1-0

[Slobfather]

** Chirp Chirp**

[preds24]

** Chirp Chirp**
No kidding!

I usually do end up talking to myself during the games! LOL

[Pagal4321]

YESSSS FLAMES!!!!

Hello Preds......you will burn in FLAMES this time around. ;)

Both teams have impressive streaks coming in, let's see which holds up.

So far....advantage Flames.

[Slobfather]

No kidding!

I usually do end up talking to myself during the games! LOL

LOL, thats ok preds. I Talk to myself all the time too.

Quite often, I laugh at my own posts (knowing that i'm the only one reading it), try to rep myself (without success), and create threads that I know nobody else will be interested in.

I guess we fly with a differant flock huh?

[preds24]

YESSSS FLAMES!!!!

Hello Preds......you will burn in FLAMES this time around. ;)

Both teams have impressive streaks coming in, let's see which holds up.

So far....advantage Flames.

'bout time you show up.. I've been talking to myself :D

Impressive indeed.. I'm hoping this is going to be a great game and not a let down for us!

Flames doing a great job right now... We've got to get in front of the net and start hammering!

[preds24]

LOL, thats ok preds. I Talk to myself all the time too.

Quite often, I laugh at my own posts (knowing that i'm the only one reading it), try to rep myself (without success), and create threads that I know nobody else will be interested in.

I guess we fly with a differant flock huh?

Actually, we are the smart ones! If you want an intelligent conversation, who better to talk to than YOURSELF! :D


Game is quite gritty.... already!

[preds24]

Hartnell, tripping....

4/4 hockey

We have to stop this BS penalities... NOW!

[preds24]

*stomps foot*

Kariya couldn't hold the puck and would have had an excellent shot

Vokoun needs a cord tied to him to get back in front of the net as the Flames were crashing it...

phewwww

*goes to get Tums already*

Crap, we fire and fire and fire --scurry in front of net... GREAT saves by Flames

Hartnell with an unsportsmanlike... I'm going to slap him!!!

[preds24]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHH!!

Flames score AGAIN!

2-0 Flames at the end of one period of play.

[shmuck]

Heh, how ya doing preds? :D

[Pagal4321]

i'm scared toe ven say anything right now.

Predators are taking some pretty hideous penaltys.
Jarome just took a penalty on something that used to happen all the time.

Sauve has had to come up HUGE for us today....that save was amazing in the first.
I'll be back in a bit preds.

ENJOY THE GAME! :D

[preds24]

Heh, how ya doing preds? :D

*points finger at Shmuck*

DON'T you start!!


Iginla to the box...

WE have to stop these stupid penalities... both goals by the Flames were PP goals.

[preds24]

i'm scared toe ven say anything right now.

Predators are taking some pretty hideous penaltys.
Jarome just took a penalty on something that used to happen all the time.

Sauve has had to come up HUGE for us today....that save was amazing in the first.
I'll be back in a bit preds.

ENJOY THE GAME! :D

Another fight (more of a pushing match)
Tootoo/Iginla? you know they have so much love for each other. Tootoo delivered a good hit on Leiopold (sp) and then he got hammered...


Okay, Pagal, leave me here to talk to myself... lol

[shmuck]

Another fight (more of a pushing match)
Tootoo/Iginla? you know they have so much love for each other. Tootoo delivered a good hit on Leiopold (sp) and then he got hammered...


Okay, Pagal, leave me here to talk to myself... lol

Oh dont worry preds, I'll keep ya company!

[WSR]

sounds like a great game to see a remote fly, huh?

[preds24]

ADAM HALL SCORES!!!! 2-1 Flames


Okay, Shmuck, but you better behave or I'll fire off a slap shot at ya.

WSR, I moved it just a bit ago to the other side of the room but the commercials are so much louder than the game, I've retrieved it and it's right in front of me.... watch for flying objects!!

[shmuck]

ADAM HALL SCORES!!!! 2-1 Flames


Okay, Shmuck, but you better behave or I'll fire off a slap shot at ya.

WSR, I moved it just a bit ago to the other side of the room but the commercials are so much louder than the game, I've retrieved it and it's right in front of me.... watch for flying objects!!

I'm not getting any blood on my new sweater, just to let you know.

Is Scottie Upshall playing?

[preds24]

Upshall to the box...

another *(*&^^% penalty...

come on guys... knock it off!

[shmuck]

At least Zidlicky got an assist on the last goal. How's Dion Phaneuf looking preds?

He'll be crazy good in a year or two.

[shmuck]

Upshall to the box...

another *(*&^^% penalty...

come on guys... knock it off!
Heh, guess he is playing.

[WSR]

Upshall to the box...

another *(*&^^% penalty...

come on guys... knock it off!
I don't want to....

[preds24]

At least Zidlicky got an assist on the last goal. How's Dion Phaneuf looking preds?

He'll be crazy good in a year or two.

He has a goal and an assist tonight thus far, so pretty good :rolleyes:

[preds24]

I don't want to....

lol, not you or ya'll... THEM (the predators)


as Hartnell goes BACK to the box....:rolleyes:

[preds24]

Vokoun just robbed Iginla!!!

Predators back to full strength!!

[preds24]

Vokoun just robbed Iginla!!!

Predators back to full strength!!

FIDDLER TIES THE GAME!!!!


2-2!!!!!

[WSR]

lol, not you or ya'll... THEM (the predators)


as Hartnell goes BACK to the box....:rolleyes:
duh, grandma 2 behind goodness!!!

[preds24]

duh, grandma 2 behind goodness!!!

Huh??? :confused:

[shmuck]

FIDDLER TIES THE GAME!!!!


2-2!!!!!

Fiddler? Feel sorry for him.

[WSR]

Huh??? :confused:
I am going to call you grandma number 2 because goodness is grandma.

What the hell, nevermind

Go Flames!!

[preds24]

I am going to call you grandma number 2 because goodness is grandma.

What the hell, nevermind

Go Flames!!

Grandma?? hmmmm I'm certainly NO grandma! lol



Flames scored 3-1 :mad:

[Pagal4321]

Do you mean 3-2 preds?

What a shitty period.....penalty's all over the place.
Good to see Leo back after just banging up his knee slightly.
But now Warrener seems to be limping.....

I expect a MUCH better effort in the 3rd period.
These two teams hate each other and can both fly.

[WSR]

Grandma?? hmmmm I'm certainly NO grandma! lol



Flames scored 3-1 :mad:
Okay old lady!!

I am sure you would like to punch me now....

[preds24]

Do you mean 3-2 preds?

What a shitty period.....penalty's all over the place.
Good to see Leo back after just banging up his knee slightly.
But now Warrener seems to be limping.....

I expect a MUCH better effort in the 3rd period.
These two teams hate each other and can both fly.

:eek: Yes! I did 3-2!!

It has been a wild one...

You're right they do hate each other. Iginla and Tootoo; Iginla and Vokoun and there's just one penalty after another...

HOPEFULLY, we gain a bit of control and come out in the third playing some serious hockey....

but isn't it fun to watch both the teams quickness???

[preds24]

Okay old lady!!

I am sure you would like to punch me now....


You trying to get me riled up? LOL

umm I might be "older" than you, but I have no doubt, I can hurt ya!! ;)

[WSR]

:eek: Yes! I did 3-2!!

It has been a wild one...

You're right they do hate each other. Iginla and Tootoo; Iginla and Vokoun and there's just one penalty after another...

HOPEFULLY, we gain a bit of control and come out in the third playing some serious hockey....

but isn't it fun to watch both the teams quickness???
the teams just look quick not even looking at them!!!

[WSR]

You trying to get me riled up? LOL

umm I might be "older" than you, but I have no doubt, I can hurt ya!! ;)
Maybe......

I like to tease with you and goodness.


FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

[preds24]

Maybe......

I like to tease with you and goodness.


FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

lmao! Because you know we fight back! :D

[WSR]

lmao! Because you know we fight back! :D
Puts a new perspective on things

[Pagal4321]

Just not used to watching two teams with such quickness play each other.
I'm used to watching the Flames shut down offensive juggernaut teams(Vancouver, etc.).
No offense to Nashville of course....

[preds24]

Puts a new perspective on things

gotta watch those fiesty blondes! :D


Pagal4321Just not used to watching two teams with such quickness play each other.
I'm used to watching the Flames shut down offensive juggernaut teams(Vancouver, etc.).
No offense to Nashville of course....


None taken...

I love the quickness! Makes it fun to watch and tonight is no exception...

[WSR]

gotta watch those fiesty blondes! :D



None taken...

I love the quickness! Makes it fun to watch and tonight is no exception...
You still don't scare me though...unless you kick like a cow

[preds24]

You still don't scare me though...unless you kick like a cow

I kick with the best of them!!! :D

[shmuck]

She kicks harder than a cow.

[wings4life_14]

Well crap, the Preds scored

3-3

[preds24]

Smithson SCORES!!!

3-3!!!

[WSR]

She kicks harder than a cow.
Ima going to doubt that one, her mouth might be bigger but....

lol

[wings4life_14]

Crap, Upshall scored

[shmuck]

Ima going to doubt that one, her mouth might be bigger but....

lol

Uh oh.

You might want to look out for a puck..

[preds24]

Ima going to doubt that one, her mouth might be bigger but....

lol

Listen here, WSR!! I'll kick you like I have to kick to keep the cows back!!


UPSHALL SCORES!!!! 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[WSR]

Listen here, WSR!! I'll kick you like I have to kick to keep the cows back!!


UPSHALL SCORES!!!! 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
That was one weak kick

[preds24]

That was one weak kick
I'm gonna hurt you!!! LOL

[shmuck]

If preds has stress problems in a few years, I'm blaming this board.

[preds24]

If preds has stress problems in a few years, I'm blaming this board.

IN A FEW YEARS?? lmao!!!!!

[WSR]

If preds has stress problems in a few years, I'm blaming this board.
Preds-blood pressure^^^^^^^^^^^^up, up, and away

I am off to hit the sack, have a good one shumuck and preds

[preds24]

About a minute left....

come on guys!!!!

[shmuck]

Preds-blood pressure^^^^^^^^^^^^up, up, and away

I am off to hit the sack, have a good one shumuck and preds

Uh oh, its not a good idea to leave the two of us alone... hehe Have a good one tomorrow man.

[preds24]

g'night, WSR!



aaaaaaaaaargghh Eaton to the box -

20 seconds

[preds24]

PREDS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4-3 :D

[shmuck]

Glad they won tonight and I'm glad it didnt go to overtime.

[Pagal4321]

Fuck........
I will put the blame squarely on playing back to back. What a crappy 2nd and 3rd period.
Good game preds....again you come out on top.

40 shots.....that's so not the Flames game.

[preds24]

Thank you sir!

What a game. I started painting my nails and the come back was launched. Made typing one-handed a bit difficult but worth it!!!

[preds24]

Fuck........
I will put the blame squarely on playing back to back. What a crappy 2nd and 3rd period.
Good game preds....again you come out on top.

40 shots.....that's so not the Flames game.

We have that to contend with tomorrow night with the Canucks. It does make a difference, imo.

It was a good game, Pagal. Watching these two teams go at it is unreal sometimes.

Btw, thanks for sharing in the game thread...

and yes, ya'll too, Shmuck, 14, and WSR -

hmmm I was severely outnumbered tonight!!!

[shmuck]

Thank you sir!

What a game. I started painting my nails and the come back was launched. Made typing one-handed a bit difficult but worth it!!!

Whats up with women doing their nails late at night? My mom is doing the same thing. But I'm headed to bed, too long of a day tomorrow for my liking.

[preds24]

lol... it's the first time we get the chance!!

[preds24]

Nashville grinds out 4-3 win in Calgary
A determined Nashville Predators squad stormed back from a 2-0 first period deficit Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames at Pengrowth Saddledome, taking a 4-3 lead on a backhand goal by Scottie Upshall with 6:47 remaining and holding on for a sixth consecutive victory. Nashville's Adam Hall and Vern Fiddler each tallied on the power play in the second period to tie the game at 2-2 and Jerred Smithson knotted the score again after a third Calgary goal. With the win, the Predators are a 3-0-0 on their current five-game road trip and move to 24-7-3 on the season.
After an opening period in which Calgary flexed its muscle--through physical play and two power-play markers--Nashville dug in and fought back by outhitting the Flames, winning races to pucks and putting in a superb effort in battles along the boards. The hard work resulted in numerous scoring chances, including each of the Predators' last two goals. Both were the product of gritty efforts by Nashville's forwards to work the puck loose behind the Calgary net and center it to a player waiting in front.
Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun made several spectacular saves to keep Nashville in the game, although his miscue behind his own net late in the second period directly resulted in Calgary's third goal and threatened to shift the momentum in the Flames' favor. Instead, Nashville outshot Calgary 13-7 in the final 20 minutes and went on to win their sixth game of the season when trailing after two periods.
The opening moments of the game unfolded in a less than ideal manner for the Predators. A boarding penalty to Darcy Hordichuk 1:00 into play put Calgary on its first power play of the night. Vokoun contributed two big saves--one on a deflected shot and the other on a one-timer from the point--as Nashville successfully killed that penalty. Then, over a 2:31 span, the teams combined for four roughing minors, two fighting majors and a boarding penalty. In the midst of these flaring tempers, Predators forward Steve Sullivan had to be helped off the ice after an accidental center-ice collision with Matthew Lombardi at 5:17. When the dust settled, Calgary had its second man-advantage of the night, and the Flames converted with a one-timer from the top of the left circle by Marcus Nilson at 5:42.
Despite a four-minute power play, a brief five-on-three advantage and a flurry of even-strength chances by Fiddler, Ryan Suter, Scott Hartnell and Dan Hamhuis around the 17:30 mark, the Predators allowed the Flames to extend their lead to 2-0 with 25 seconds remaining in the period. With Calgary on the power play, Nashville's Paul Kariya attempted a clearing lob that deflected off the glove of a leaping Calgary player to rookie defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who made a nice play at the blue line to hold the puck in and then rifled a slap shot that beat Vokoun to the glove side.
With Sullivan back with his teammates on the bench, the Predators started the second period with three straight power-play opportunities. Just one second remained on the third penalty when Adam Hall scored to cut the margin in half. He had positioned himself to deflect defenseman Dan Hamhuis' wrist shot from the left point; Hall directed the puck downward, forcing it to bounce once and fool Calgary goalie Philippe Sauve. The Flames then enjoyed back-to-back power-play chances of their own, and would have extended their lead at 12:05 if not for a remarkable save by Vokoun on sharpshooter Jarome Iginla. On the play, Vokoun made an initial stop on a shot from the left wing but the puck rebounded into the slot where Iginla picked it up, just inside the right face-off circle. He had a full net to shoot at, as initially, Vokoun was still down in a butterfly stance at the left side of the goal mouth. As Iginla approached on his forehand and targeted a shot just inside the right post, Vokoun moved laterally in a split second and executed a whirling stick save that sent the puck wide of the net.
That save proved crucial, as exactly two minutes later Fiddler capitalized on Nashville's seventh power play to tie the game at 2-2. The Predators had set up with possession of the puck in Calgary's zone. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen slid a pass from his position high in the zone to Kariya at his right. Kariya blasted a shot with Hordichuk screening in front, and the puck deflected off Hordichuk to the right side of the net where Fiddler got just enough of his stick on the disc to deposit the rebound.
The quick and scrappy Flames retook the lead at 17:38, when Vokoun went behind his net to play a dumped puck and inadvertently passed it to Calgary's Jason Wiemer in the right corner of Nashville's zone. Vokoun darted around the right side of his net to the front of the goal as Wiemer delivered the puck behind the net to Kristian Huselius. With Vokoun moving from right to left, Huselius fired an elevated shot at the goalie from behind the net that banked in off of Vokoun to make the score 3-2.
Dogged work by the line of Smithson, Hordichuk and Jordin Tootoo netted the equalizer for Nashville at 8:46 of the third period. With the puck along the boards in Nashville's zone, Hordichuk dug it out and sent a lead pass for Tootoo into the neutral zone. Tootoo's attempt to dump the puck into the offensive zone was blocked by Calgary's Robyn Regehr, so Tootoo collected the puck and went wide to the right of the defender. Regehr wedged Tootoo off into the boards, but the puck continued into the right corner where a solid check by Hordichuk allowed Tootoo to retrieve it and backhand it to Smithson out front at the hashmarks. Smithson's shot beat Sauve to the stick side.
Likewise, Upshall's game-deciding tally originated from solid work in the right corner--this time by Hall and captain Greg Johnson. As players from each side battled for possession, Johnson came away with the puck and skated behind the net toward the other corner. He then abruptly turned and, now on his forehand, skated to the right of the net. His pass toward to the slot--intended for a pinching Danny Markov--made its way all the way through to Upshall in the left face-off circle. Upshall wasted little time in releasing a backhander that put the Predators ahead 4-3 at 13:13 of the final period.
Less than a minute later, Nashville's Yanic Perreault nearly sealed the win with a shot from the slot that hit the left post behind Suave. Calgary mustered a final push in the last two minutes, but Vokoun squashed the best scoring chance from that flurry when he stood tall and squeezed his leg pads together to stop a shot by Nilson from low in the left circle. It was one of 23 saves Vokoun made on the night to secure a league-leading 19th win.
The Predators will continue their road trip with a stop in Vancouver Wednesday night to face the Canucks at 9:30 p.m. CT. The trip will conclude Friday night with an 8:30 p.m. match-up against the Edmonton Oilers.
Notes: Scottie Upshall's goal against Calgary was his fourth tally of the season and the first game-winner of his NHL career. He was named the game's 1st Star and logged his second-highest ice-time total of season (12:59) Tuesday. He now has seven points (3g, 4a) in his last seven games... Darcy Hordichuk notched two assists and was named the game's 2nd Star Tuesday... Adam Hall posted one goal--a power-play tally--and one assist against Calgary to give him four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in his last four games. Seven of his eight goals this season have come on the power play. He also logged a season-high 23:38 of ice time Tuesday... Vern Fiddler scored his fifth goal of the season against the Flames to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games. His five goals this season set a new career high... Jerred Smithson scored his third goal of the season. After posting two points (1g, 1a) in his first 14 games this season while wearing jersey No. 42, Smithson has notched four points (2g, 2a) in the six games since he changed his jersey number to 25... Paul Kariya added a power-play assist to take the scoring lead among Predators with 34 points (12g, 22a)... Dan Hamhuis collected an assist Tuesday to give him 6 assists in his last five games... Zidlicky, who registered an assist, has five points (2g, 3a) in his last five games... Jordin Tootoo registered an assist and now has five points (1g, 4a) in his last five games... Greg Johnson notched an assist, his third of the season... The Predators are 22-4-3 against Western Conference teams... Nashville has scored 30 goals in its last six games. During the first two months of the season (22 games), the Predators tallied a total of 62 goals; so far in December (12 games), the Predators have scored 48 times... Nashville has scored at least one power-play goal in 19 of its last 20 games. The club has nine power-play goals in its last four games. The Predators are 19-5-1 when they score a power-play goal, and 4-2-2 when they don't... The Predators are 12-3-1 when their opponent scores first, as Calgary did Tuesday night, and 14-4 in one-goal games... Nashville is now 6-1-0 in the first half of back-to-back games... Hamhuis and Kariya each registered a game-high five shots Tuesday... Nashville outhit Calgary 21-18. Smithson led all players with five hits... Hordichuk fought Chris Simon in the first period... Jamie Allison and Kris Beech were scratches for Nashville... Attendance at the Pengrowth Saddledome was 19,289--Calgary's 18th consecutive sell-out of the season.