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Wild tamed by Preds

Ohhhhhhhhhh….Fix my knickers with a nine inch nail! The Predators feast on the Mild with a 4-2 win amidst a rockin’ throng on Monday night in the Stone. In so doing, they stake sole possession of the lead in the Central Division and Western Conference with a 5-1 record, good for 10 points. 

As with Saturday’s win over the Long Islanders, the Smashcats dominated much of the first period, keeping the Bile trapped in their own zone with an oppressive forecheck. This led to them committing a penalty, and the reinvigorated PP went to work, pouring hot rubber like it was a Goodyear plant. At 6:01, P.K. sifted one towards the heavy traffic in front of the net, and Crazy Legs pounded the rebound for his 2nd of the campaign.

Suter’s Pooters answered with a man advantage marker of their own, when Dumb(ass) found a loose puck that sifted into the low slot and whistled one over Pekka’s shoulder to knot the score.

In the second frame, just as the Men in Gold were finishing another penalty kill, they broke up ice, when Joey spotted the Eks-Factor gliding down the slot and set him up beautifully for a swift wrister past a dazed Staypuff at 3:51. It was Matty’s 2nd goal, and 5th point overall on the young campaign.

They extended the lead 8 minutes later when K.T. stole the puck at his own blue line, spun around and led a streaking Scoresberg up ice with a long feed. #9 skated in all alone and calmly de-pantsed Unlock for his 4th tally. But shortly thereafter, Koivu found himself WIDE open 8 feet in front of Rinne and blasted it to pull back within one.

The final stanza was full of excitement on both ends, but the Minnie Sodas started to tilt the ice a bit as time wore on, and the Music City Sabre Cats clawed to protect their lead. The Big Finn and the team D in front of him were up to the task, thwarting numerous flurries, even when the Vile had a late PP and pulled their goalie. Salty got an empty netter on a long toss from Subey to ice the proceedings.

But for 3 posts by Ellis, Arvi, and Prince Filip, the score could’ve been much higher. Oh well, it just doesn’t matter, as they get their 3rd straight win. 

Mr. Vezina improved to 3-1, stopping 29 of 31. His GAA is now 1.75, and save percentage at .943, both near the top of the league yet again.

After 4 games in 6 nights, the boys get a few days off before starting a 2 game road trip in Western Canada on Friday in Calgary. Let’s go Preds!