Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Rewind

Final: Predators 3, Lightning 2

The Predators had a lot of rust coming in off the break and Tampa Bay used their offensive speed to exploit it early forcing turnovers in the offensive zone.  St. Louis capitalized and lit the lamp twice in the first 10 minutes of the opening period.  The Predators looked sluggish and sloppy in the first stanza and Tampa Bay controlled the pace of the game.  During the first intermission Gabriel Borque, one of the few predators that didn't look lost, said that the team wasn't ready for the intensity that the Lightning started the game with.  Ryan Clune saw to it that the Predators woke up in the second with a fight that saw him doing much of the punching, but with little damage done on either side.  The predators fed off the energy of the stadium shutting down Tampa Bay's space in the neutral zone and spending quality minutes on the forecheck grinding the Lightning players down in the corners.  Intensity and energy swayed the game for Nashville's benefit.

As the preview stated, the key to the game was special teams and defense.  While Carter Hutton appeared at ease in the crease for the majority of the game, it was due to the work his blue-liners gave him in front of the net.  Hutton faced a grand total of 16 shots and while the first score by St. Louis was unstoppable the second was unforgivable.  The puck hit Hutton's glove, fell between his pads, and slowly trickled across the line.  The defense responded by closing out on shooters early while Josi and Ellis showed exceptional use of the stick with adept poke checking.  Another notable example was a particularly phenomenal block late in the third period by Shea Weber on rookie Tyler Johnson.

All three of Nashville's goals came on the power play.  Their efficiency improved their special teams unit from 7th best in the league up to 5th.  While they struggle to score at even strength the Predators continue to be able to execute with a man advantage.  If they can keep this up and balance it with discipline on defense I think the Predators could ride this unit to prolonged success.