Nov 30 Recap: Vancouver 5 – Nashville 3

Well….that’s like havin’ a canker sore at the cotillion. The Preds squander a 3rd period lead and lose for only the third time in regulation the whole of November, 5-3 to Vanhoover in Smashville last night. They finish the record-tying month with a 10-3-1 mark.

The Canuckleheads, who have played the most games while traveling and the third best road record in the league, are a dangerous bunch. They played gritty with a LOT of speed, and had numerous odd-man rushes throughout the evening. Added emotion was evident because Derek Dorsett, who was off to the best start of his career, announced that morning that he was going to have to retire due to medical concerns.

The Men in Gold generated plenty of offensive chances throughout the tilt, and besides the three scored, also hit the post thrice, and created numerous scrums in front of the Fail Wail cage, but just couldn’t bury a few more that would’ve made the difference.

Crazy Legs’ speed was critical in the Smashcats’ initial two. First, he left a Canopener D-Man in his wake and he swooped up an Irwin pass and deposited a five-hole finish for his 9th. Shortly after, he drew a hooking penalty due to his swiftness, and then, on the subsequent power play, gave the primary assist to Scoresberg’s 13th goal.

Bonino got the Good Guys third via scrappy work behind the cage and, from his knees, swept the biscuit past G-Tender Nilsson.

It was not Pekka’s best night of the year, but 3 of the 4 scores he allowed were via a screen, a deflection, and a breakaway…after stopping a handful of other unbalanced rushes.

Prince Filip has gathered points in all 12 home games so far on the campaign–a new Predator record. The NHL record is 16. The team has also set a new franchise mark with man-advantage goals in 12 straight home games.

A tip of the hat needs to be given for Daniel Sedin of the Whales, who joined his twin brother and team mate, Henrik (who has 1,035), in the 1,000 point club with an assist and the tying marker in the third. They are the only set of twins to ever accomplish this in the NHL.

So, the Preds will gather themselves and hit the ice at the Big House on Broadway yet again to take on the perennially hated Mighty Sucks of Anaheim Saturday night. It’s sure to be a bruising and rowdy affair between two clubs who quite simply do not like each other in the least. Let’s bring our own intensity to the match and help the boys start a new streak. Let’s go Preds!