Let me throw my fang fingers in the air, we’re heading to the West Side.
The Predators headed to the West Coast this past week, hoping to repeat a sweep from earlier in the season (November to be exact). Missing from the last West Coast trip were team captain Jason Arnott, and face-off wizard Radek Bonk. Both were recovering from injuries. During the trip, Wade Belak is sent back to Nashville to rest, and Patric Hornqvist is called up from the Admirals.
Monday: Preds dethrone the Kings 4-3.
Goals: Weber, Sullivan, Jones
Dumont, Ward, Erat, Suter, Hamhuis, and Tootoo all post an assist on the evening.
Unsung hero of the game is definitely Jared Smithson. During the last three minutes of the game, Jared stepped up and was crucial during the Penalty Kill at the end of the game.
Wednesday: Preds play Duck Hunt, but settle for one point in overtime. 4-3 Ducks.
Goals: Ward (two, including game-tying goal), Dumont
Assisting on those goals were J.P. Dumont, Ryan Suter with three on the night, and Shea Weber with two of his own.
So far on this trip, there’s been a theme of stupid penalties at inopportune times. In L.A. it was Steve Sullivan, in Anaheim it was Vernon Fiddler. Of the four games on the swing, this was perhaps the most urgent and must-win for the Predators. Walking away with one point is tough, but better than nothing.
Thursday: Sharks take a bite of Tootoo, but Preds hang on for one point. 3-2 Sharks.
Goals: Ward, Fiddler
Assists come from Dumont and Hamhuis
Big loss of the evening was the fight between Jordin Tootoo and Brad Staubitz. You know it was a bad one for Toots when HockeyFights.com makes it the headline for the day.
Considering everything the Preds had going against them (overtime game the night before, flight delays, etc) coming home with six of eight points is highly respectable.
The Predators have earned a few days off and return to action on Tuesday against Anaheim.