The Nashville Predators continue their Saturday struggles at home after a loss of 4-1 against the Dallas Stars.
The Stars claimed a 4-1 victory during the two teams’ first meeting of the season. The Predators competed without Mikael Granlund (day-to-day lower body injury), Mattias Ekholm (illness), and Viktor Arvidsson (lower body injury). A transaction was made with the Milwaukee Admirals as Daniel Carr was sent down and Colin Blackwell was recalled. Blackwell centered the fourth line of Austin Watson and Yakov Trenin during his seventh game in a gold uniform.
“(Blackwell) was great,” said Austin Watson on Colin Blackwell. “He worked, he was physical, he brought pucks to the net, he brought a lot of energy for our line-up.”
The first period did not seem like the team was ready for play. Teams remained scoreless at the end of the first period. The Stars led the shot clock 11-9.
The second period saw some energy and competition. Austin Watson scored the lone goal just over a minute into the second period.
“We got the lead,” said Watson. “It’s a lot easier to play with the lead then try to claw back into the game, but it turned around quick there with the shorthanded goal and from that point.”
Less than four minutes later, the Stars capitalized while shorthanded to tie it 1-1. The momentum shifted following Comeau’s game tying goal.
“We can’t let that happen, first of all,” said Filip Forsberg after the game. “We have to play better on the power play, but at the same time, the momentum was changing and it’s our job to keep that in. It doesn’t matter if they score, we still have whatever time we had left on the power play. We have to go back out there and try to get that one back.
The defense in front of Pekka Rinne was not impressive. Andrew Cogliano was able to get face to face with Rinne because of Ryan Ellis’ lack of pressure. Defensive mistakes allowed four goals in just over a 12-minute time span in the second period.
“I don’t know what or why it was,” said a disappointed Rinne. “Made a few mistakes, and then they made us pay right away. I’ve got to find a way to at least make some of those saves.”
Nashville is unable to take control of the game and allowed four unanswered goals. Anton Khudobin and the defense in front holds off 21 shots against to maintain their lead going into regulation.
“It’s tough, tight,” stated Filip Forsberg. “We’re working hard, we’re trying. I just don’t think the desperation is there. It’s not good enough, especially when we are down in the third. We just have to get desperate.”
Saturday games remain to be a struggle for the group. The fans are not happy with the performance, and the team took notice to their leaving during the game.
“It’s been a rough go for too long,” said Rinne. “Another tough loss, especially at home. By the end of the game, there was probably half the people left in the arena and it makes me embarrassed by the results at home. We’ve got to be better.”
