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Nov 20 Recap: Winnipeg 3 – Nashville 5

Ohhhhh…They’re rainin’ more rubber than the Son of Flubber! The Predators reach the quarter post of the season shooting down the Jets 5-3 in Smashville last night. In the process, they won their 7th of last 8 played, improving to 12-6-2, good for 26 points, and now are just 1 behind the Winter Pigs in the battle for second place in the Central Division.

The amazingly balanced attack of the Saber Cats was on display yet again, with 5 different men rippling the twine. Fiala started things as he received a slap-pass from P.K. and whisked a dandy spin-o-rama past the Pets’ tender, Hellesuck. Joey got his second via a Scoresberg steal behind the net and a quick tape-to-tape feed for a quick blast. On consecutive power plays Turris tallied on a one-timer from the left circle, and then The Eks-Factor teed-up a crap-inducing slapper via a beatific backhand feed from Cap’n Roman (thus setting a new Preds record for blue liners with a goal in 4 straight contests). And Nicky B. finished the onslaught with essentially a shorthanded effort as he sashayed between two lumox-like Winnie-the-Poohs and then nonchalantly deposited the puck thru Hellandback’s five hole.

With those two man-advantage strikes, the Men in Gold improve the P.P. to 24.1% effectiveness, good for 3rd overall in the league. They have now scored at least power goal in every home game this year…certainly one of the reasons they are now 7-1-1 at the Quarrytorium.

The points keep piling-up for the Smashcats, who now have 9 guys in double figures just 20 games into the campaign (led by Prince Filip with 21). And three of ’em are D-men: Subban with 16, Josi with 14, and Ekholm with 13. Just imagine what that backline is going to look like when Ellis starts playing again (good news on that front, as he was skating effectively in conditioning yesterday morning).

The FITS line (FI-ala, T-urris, and S-mith) is giving opposing teams just that. Their speed, tenacity, puck possession, and shooting skills are wearing everyone out right now. Simply a joy to behold.

Pekks continues his solid play, making those big stops at crucial times. He is now off to one of his best starts ever at 11-3-2 (tied for 3rd best in the league). He is, quite simply, da man.

Next up is the return of Shea Weber and the Hubs from Frenchytown Wednesday evening. These Thanksgiving Eve bouts tend to have blaring Bridgestone crowds…so let’s keep that tradition alive by dropping the hammer on ’em tomorrow night and help the boys leapfrog into 2nd place. Let’s go Preds!