Ohhhhhhh….Old Hickory’s feelin’ splendifery! The Music City Sabre Cats continue their prowl of the upper echelons of the NHL by snuffing the Flamers 5-3 in the Saddledump last night. With the W, the Preds sit not only atop the Central Division and Western Conference, but are tied for the best record league-wide at 6-1, good for 12 points.
However, it did not come without a price. Pekks suffered an undisclosed injury in the 3rd period. Is it a sprain? A tweaked muscle? A contusion? More will be known as today unfolds. One thing’s for sure, it is SO good to have Juuse Saros as a back-up. The young Finn was thrown into the fray with absolutely no warm-up when the score was knotted at 3 apiece, and the Dames were generating momentum. He had to make a couple remarkable point-blank saves literally seconds after play resumed. And he continued to dumbfound the Lames, racking up 9 stops (many of the astonishing variety) to earn the victory and improve his record to 3-0, with a 2.22 GAA, and .917 save %.
The JOFA line continued it’s remarkable chemistry by tallying on their opening shift as Joey racked his 2nd at the back end of a give-and-go with Scoresberg. The FITS Line was also in high gear throughout the evening as Crazy Legs notched his 3rd on a pitchforked backhander, and The Swiss Mist rang-up his first on a man advantage. K.T. had helpers on both.
And it was the Grinders that generated the game winner, when Rinaldo flew up the right wing and whistled a snapper top shelf—where mama keeps the sippin’ whiskey. That 4th Line has been exceptional so far in this young campaign with 3 goals, over 50 combined hits, and an oppressive forecheck that frustrates the bejeezus out of opponents.
Prince Filip iced the game with 70 foot spin-o-rama that was created by yeoman efforts by Snossis and R.J. prying the puck away from floundering Flickers. That gives #9 six points in this 4 game win streak (4 g, 2 a).
The team D in front of Rinne and Saros was stout, blocking 20 shots (Hammer leading with 6). They were also strong in the face-off dot at 54%, led by Joey at 67% and Nicky B. at 63%.
The Smashcats will attempt to remain undefeated on the road as they visit the Toilers further north in Alberta tonight. Let’s go Preds!