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Nashville’s historic season ends, Canucks move on to Western Conference finals
Nashville lost another one-goal game as the Vancouver Canucks edged the Predators 2-1 to win the Western Conference semi final series in six games. Every game in the series was decided by a single goal, with the exception of Game 4 when Henrik Sedin scored an empty net tally to give the Canucks a two-goal cushion.
“Before we start,” Head Coach Barry Trotz said as he sat down for his post game press conference, “I just want to congratulate the Vancouver Canucks. I thought they played a great series and obviously the coaching staff did a great job.”
The Predators came out Monday night and dominated the first period of play in shots, outshooting the Canucks 11-7, but at the end of 20 minutes trailed 2-0.
“We played well.” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said about Nashville’s first period. “I think they only had a couple chances in the first period. They executed both of those. Those were playoff goals — lucky bounces and they put it in the back of the net.”
Barry Trotz nominated for Jack Adams two years running
Barry Trotz was nominated for the Jack Adams Award given to the Coach of the Year in the NHL. It is the second consecutive year Trotz has been nominated for the award. The Nashville Predators walked away with four nominations to the NHL Awards Ceremony held on June 22 in Vegas.
Other nominations received by the Predators include David Poile for the GM of the Year Award, Shea Weber for the Norris Trophy and Pekka Rinne for the Vezina Trophy.
Here is the press release from the Predators organization:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / APRIL 29, 2011
BYLSMA, TROTZ AND VIGNEAULT NAMED JACK ADAMS AWARD FINALISTS
NEW YORK (April 29, 2011) — Dan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators and Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks are the three finalists for the 2010-11 Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success,” the National Hockey League announced today.
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22, during the 2011 NHL Awards from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas. The 2011 NHL Awards will be broadcast by VERSUS in the United States and CBC in Canada.
Tootoo’s playoff success atteacting national attention
Jordin Tootoo’s goal and 4 assists in six games during Nashville’s Western Conference Quarter Finals series against the Anaheim Ducks is considered by many to be a key turning point of the series in the Predators favor.
Tootoo assisted on Jerred Smithson’s overtime winning goal in Game 5, as well as both of Nick Spalings goals in the series clinching Game 6 last Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.
As a result of his slick play-making abilities, Tootoo has been attracting national attention.
Wednesday, Tootoo was named the National Hockey League Players Association’s (NHLPA) player of the week for his role during the quarter finals.
In previewing the upcoming Western Conference semi-final between the Predators and Canucks, Radio Team 1040’s Jeff Paterson points out that in the last month, from March 24th, Tootoo (5 goals, 7 assists) has more points than last year’s Hart Trophy winner, and Canucks captain, Henrik Sedin (1 goal, 11 assists).
Predators make history with first ever playoff series win, down Anaheim 4-2
A year ago to the day, the Nashville Predators had the lead in a pivotal game 5 Western Conference Quarter Final against Chicago with under a minute to play. Nashville went on the power play, but then surrendered a shorthanded goal, tying the game. As all Predators fans remember so well, Nashville went on to lose the game and the series in game six at home.
- Legwand’s empty-net goal was insurance for Nashville, who defeated the Ducks 4-2
Sunday night, history was made, but not repeated when the Predators went into the final minute of game 6 against the Ducks with a one-goal lead, and on the power play.
Instead of giving up a goal, David Legwand scored in the empty net.
The first ever player to be drafted by the Nashville Predators added the insurance giving the Predators the two-goal lead with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
“It’s a huge thing for us to move on and get to continue playing. It means a bit. We get to play in round two. There are only going to be 8 teams playing, so that’s exciting for us to get a chance to do,” Legwand said when asked what it meant for him personally to be moving on to the next round.
Rinne nominated for Vezina Trophy
On a day that sees the Nashville Predators play their most important game in franchise history, Pekka Rinne, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the award given to the goaltender judged to be the best in the National Hockey League.
- Rinne has been nominated for the Vezina Award
Rinne’s regular season statistics were undeniable. Having played in 64 games, the Finnish netminder ended the season with a 2.12 GAA, good for third in the League behind the other two Vezina nominees, Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. His .930 save percentage was second in the League to Thomas.
Thomas is the favorite to win the Award. A Vezina winner in 2009, Thomas lost his starting position last season to Tuukka Rask but regained it this year on his way to leading the League in both goals against and save percentage.
Luongo also put up good numbers, leading his team to the President’s Trophy. His 2.11 GAA that was second only to Thomas and he finished fourth in the League with a .928 save percentage.
Predators expectations never higher: Playoffs start Wednesday for Nashville
The Nashville Predators will open their Western Conference Quarter-finals against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, April 13th at Honda Center.
- To beat the Ducks, the Preds need to stop Perry
In a battle of offense versus defense, the Predators big guns will look to stop some of the NHL’s most talented forwards in order to move on to the second round of the playoffs. Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and goaltender Pekka Rinne will have to contend with Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, as well as Mikku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.
Predators Head Coach, Barry Trotz, says that one thought comes to mind when you think of the Ducks. “When you think about Anaheim, you think about the big line, that’s where it starts and ends,” Trotz said, adding, “Out of the players who have come through in the last couple of months, [Perry] has been as good as anybody. He’d be my MVP vote for the West.”
Kostitsyn, Nashville’s first 20-goal scorer, lives up to potential
Sergei Kostitsyn became the the Nashville Predators first 20-goal scorer this season when he scored during Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 overtime defeat to the Detroit Red Wings.
Last off-season, Kostitsyn was traded to Nashville from Montreal for the negotiating rights of two players the Predators organization had no intention of resigning, Dan Ellis and Dustin Boyd. Kostitsyn, a restricted free agent, signed a one-year deal with the Predators worth $550 000.
The Canadiens had no room for Kostitsyn on their roster and suspended the forward twice for refusing to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. When Kostitsyn wouldn’t report to Hamilton, he stated that he knew how well he could play and didn’t belong in the AHL. Last season, during the Eastern Conference finals the Habs also told Kostitsyn he was not welcome at morning skate because of his lack of work habits.
Contribution through lineup key to Predators recent success
The Nashville Predators put their six-game winning streak on the line tonight when they host Vancouver at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville’s recent success seems to fall on the number three, three goals for the Predators. Nashville’s 4-2 win against Dallas on Saturday was the 17th consecutive time Nashville won when scoring three or more goals. The Predator’s season record for scoring three or more goals in a game is 38-4-1.
While the numbers are pretty clear, Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz says contributions from all four lines have been key. “I give a lot of credit right through out lineup,” Trotz said, adding “Go back through the six games — every line has contributed over this stretch.”
Forward Jordin Tootoo agrees, “We got dynamic players in this dressing room that can change the pace of the game and can change things around. We count on each other to get the job done, night in and night out.”
Defensive forwards keep Predators in games with lack of power play
In the NHL, teams can win games on the strength of their power play. The penalty kill, likewise, can keep a team in games. For the Nashville Predators, while their penalty kill has improved steadily from the start of the season, the power play has gone in the other direction. Through 21 games, Nashville has scored 9 power play goals in 78 opportunities — but two of them came Friday afternoon when the team was already losing 4-0 in the third period to the Wild.
Jerred Smithson is defensive forward producing offensively lately. How much longer can Nashville rely on the defensive players for its offense? (Photo: Yardbarker.com)
It is too early to know if the late efforts from Nashville on Friday will act as a turning point in sparking the Predators offense. But one thing is for certain, when you struggle to score goals at even strength, the man advantage can be a real difference maker. And the Predators have struggled to score goals as of late, scoring just 3 times in the last three games.
When asked about the Predators scoring woes, Coach Barry Trotz said “One of the biggest mistakes that the Nashville Predators make is when we say well we got to score lots of goals. All of a sudden we are not Nashville Predator-like and therefore we will lose 6-4 or something like that. That’s not the way we play. Our team identity is that we play solid team defense as a group and piggy back some of our offense off of that.”
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