Nick Spaling, who is apparently Nashville's Lucky Charm, kept it working as he scored a goal. Follow after the jump for video highlights & reaction...
First the video (might take 30-45 minutes post-game to work):
Your random observations:
The first period was a whirlwind of activity, wasn't it? It was especially good to see that power play goal late in the period, a classic example of Hornqvist working the front of the net, even if he didn't end up getting any credit for the score.
That Sean Couturier was pretty impressive, showing speed and a touch of moxie in the offensive end.
Ryan Ellis certainly earned himself a spot on the season highlight video with that hip-check he laid on Wayne Simmonds early in the 2nd period, landing one of those in open ice (as opposed to along the boards) is extra-impressive.
Talk about dueling wicked wristers... Kostitsyn's score followed by Couturier's were great examples of guys executing shots that a goalie has little to no chance of stopping. Bouillon gets a black mark for leaving Couturier so wide-open, however.
You had to know the Flyers were going to put on a strong push in the 3rd period, and once their collection of forwards got rolling, they can be a handful for any team.
Surprising stat of the night? After Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, the next-most ice time on defense went to Roman Josi, who went 20:33 and looked pretty good out there. I was wondering how he'd fare against a team with such an impressive array of forwards.
Chris Mueller acquitted himself well in limited action, and we'll have to see how quickly Craig Smith recovers from his illness. The Preds play next on Monday afternoon, so it's possible Mueller could get another game or two (or five - remember how long Kevin Klein's flu took?).
Great game…glad to see we can out offense such a powerfully offensive team. I truly thought #6 and #20 were going to collapse from exhaustion in the last 5 minutes.
I couldn’t get a sense of the game tonight. I’ve watched your guys in all the playoff series the last two years and I feel like I know what’s going on. But whenever we play you the game’s a mystery to me.
true dat! They are bush leaguers over there in the East. Spend spend spend and can’t beat a team that is at the bottom of money spent. Stay here Suter. Preds are better and you don’t have to live in Philly
I think the Crayola that’s closest is dandelion. And he probably likes to pick those, anyway. More fun if he waits ‘till they’re puffballs and he can blow them…
I sit very close to the ice every home game and without our pair of elite d’man we would have been crushed tonight. Pekka held them out early and then number 6 and number 20 shut down the Flyers big first line. Unbelievable performances and Pekka still had to make 36 saves. Not only will we stink if they leave your looking at a complete defense overhall.
Anyway if you were at the game Ryan Ellis did not see the ice the last 10 minutes after the goal by Wayne Simmonds.
Still maintain that Ellis is an asset to trade at the deadline to bring in a forward. He cannot physically compete with big forwards like philly, ducks, blues, sharks, kings, parts of the dead wings all have. Great an awesome hipcheck (no doubt about that) but he is a PP specialist that is destined for third pairing minutes.
Let him get pushed around in someone else’s defensive end and let’s steal a forward for him.
I definitely agree unless Poile has sat down with both Suter and Weber and they have a verbal agreement that trading Ellis + x or y for a key forward will get them to sign. I doubt that happening.
Also, Ellis’ hit on Simmonds is front-page material on NHL.com. What a beautiful hit!
It was the strangest thing… A fellow STH seated nearby pointed it out. I heard Paul McCann say “buttery” at least four times once I was aware of it. The pucks during the intermission “rebound” goal contest “seem[ed] buttery, making them slippery.” We were invited to watch road games on Comcast with “buttery popcorn.” Then, two other “buttery” references after that, each with emphasis on the “buttery.” If someone hadn’t pointed it out to me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed either. Instead, we just all looked at each other with grins each time he said it. Think it’s some kind of subliminal marketing gimmick? LOL
Good night for hockey.......not so much football. :(
Not that I had any hope my Broncos would beat the Patriots, but that was as bad as it gets. Allowed me to pay more attention to the hockey game at least.
I remember a Flyers player say after last seasons game in Philly that playing us was like being in a track meet. From watching the Flyers this season, they don’t seem like they want to have to play full throttle for 60mins, which is why a team like ours gives them difficulty. Flyers have more talent than we do, but not the focus.
Just hope Suter and Weber don’t melt into a puddle of water by the time the regular season ends. Really wish we didn’t have to use them for almost half the game like this.
Was glad to see the Flyers put Bryzgalov in goal tonight instead of Bobrovsky, who played really well in the last two games for Philly. Not sure what has happened to Bryz, but that’s not the goalie I remember from his Phoenix days.
The good thing about a guy like Spaling scoring some goals is that it gives us, along with guys like Halischuk and Tootoo, some decent bottom 6 scoring. The bad part is that it may well lead Poile to think all is well at forward and sit pat with the roster as it is. That would be a mistake, IMO.
And the Canes beat the Bruins tonight. How, I do not know! :)
Good game!
JBoogie22 - January 14, 2012
wow, Spaling is good! I was going to vote for Pekka as player of the game but the only one I was allowed to click on was Spaling.
Creeping Death - January 14, 2012
we are only 4 points out of first
Creeping Death - January 14, 2012
Great game…glad to see we can out offense such a powerfully offensive team. I truly thought #6 and #20 were going to collapse from exhaustion in the last 5 minutes.
TitanPredBearFan - January 14, 2012
good win
Especially against a very good Flyers team. Proud of the boys tonight. Better rest up, got a tough New York trip coming up.
TootooReigns - January 14, 2012 via iPhone app
Tough B2B coming up
Considering NYR is on the second half of the B2B.
Bakht Khan - January 14, 2012
So did you guys play well?
Did we not play so well? A little of both.
I couldn’t get a sense of the game tonight. I’ve watched your guys in all the playoff series the last two years and I feel like I know what’s going on. But whenever we play you the game’s a mystery to me.
flyersfaninchicago - January 14, 2012
I thought both teams played well, fought hard.
bandman - January 14, 2012
It was a well played game by both I thought.
We have a very aggressive line right now that is our heart and our 1st line seems to be responding to the challenge.
TCountyPred - January 14, 2012
first period was the best. Philly is tough team!! See you in the finals :)
Creeping Death - January 14, 2012
^this
TCountyPred - January 14, 2012
yeah, good luck the rest of the way
beat the rangers please
flyersfaninchicago - January 14, 2012
punch a blackhawks fan for me!
Creeping Death - January 14, 2012
count on it. i’ll start a brawl at the right time.
flyersfaninchicago - January 14, 2012
Cheers to that!
davisca - January 15, 2012 via Android app
I think the Eastern Conference sucks.
So what’s good over there doesn’t “fly” when y’all play Western Conference teams.
We were comfortably in the lead from the end of the first period onward. We are better than Philly and Hartnell is a bum.
Just so you know.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 15, 2012
true dat! They are bush leaguers over there in the East. Spend spend spend and can’t beat a team that is at the bottom of money spent. Stay here Suter. Preds are better and you don’t have to live in Philly
Creeping Death - January 15, 2012
Even for half the salary
it’s worth not having to live in Philly
Only Fan In J.C. ? - January 15, 2012
Great game.
I love it when we beat the top teams of the East!
TCountyPred - January 14, 2012
Also
Are your uniforms:
Yellow
Mustard
Gold
Bumblebee
I like them
flyersfaninchicago - January 15, 2012
Gold. And thank you.
LuvthePreds - January 15, 2012
Crayola yellow for anders
Shadow23 - January 15, 2012 via iPhone app
I think the Crayola that’s closest is dandelion. And he probably likes to pick those, anyway. More fun if he waits ‘till they’re puffballs and he can blow them…
LuvthePreds - January 15, 2012
yes
Creeping Death - January 15, 2012
cheddar cheese
shoot the puck - January 15, 2012
Maybe in Augratin’s case ;)
DonBorvio - January 15, 2012
Ha!
cisar - January 15, 2012
Suter, Weber and Pekka
I sit very close to the ice every home game and without our pair of elite d’man we would have been crushed tonight. Pekka held them out early and then number 6 and number 20 shut down the Flyers big first line. Unbelievable performances and Pekka still had to make 36 saves. Not only will we stink if they leave your looking at a complete defense overhall.
Anyway if you were at the game Ryan Ellis did not see the ice the last 10 minutes after the goal by Wayne Simmonds.
virgil trucks - January 15, 2012
Still maintain that Ellis is an asset to trade at the deadline to bring in a forward. He cannot physically compete with big forwards like philly, ducks, blues, sharks, kings, parts of the dead wings all have. Great an awesome hipcheck (no doubt about that) but he is a PP specialist that is destined for third pairing minutes.
Let him get pushed around in someone else’s defensive end and let’s steal a forward for him.
wrandsw - January 15, 2012 via mobile
While I have some agreement with this point of view, I just don’t think Poile will move Ellis with the uncertainty regarding Weber and Suter.
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
I definitely agree unless Poile has sat down with both Suter and Weber and they have a verbal agreement that trading Ellis + x or y for a key forward will get them to sign. I doubt that happening.
Also, Ellis’ hit on Simmonds is front-page material on NHL.com. What a beautiful hit!
DonBorvio - January 15, 2012
NHL.com’s headline for the hit:
The Human Rocket Ship strikes again!
Stormyt - January 15, 2012
Haha.
I love that rocket ship reference!
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 15, 2012
My opinion is that Ellis is better than Suter and Weber were in their respective rookie years.
Give the youngster time to develop.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 15, 2012
"Buttery"
Okay. I give. I can’t figure it out.
For those who attended tonight’s (last night’s) game against the Flyers, what was up with all the Paul McCann references to things being “buttery”?
Leeyore - January 15, 2012
Didn’t hear that at all.
LuvthePreds - January 15, 2012
It was the strangest thing… A fellow STH seated nearby pointed it out. I heard Paul McCann say “buttery” at least four times once I was aware of it. The pucks during the intermission “rebound” goal contest “seem[ed] buttery, making them slippery.” We were invited to watch road games on Comcast with “buttery popcorn.” Then, two other “buttery” references after that, each with emphasis on the “buttery.” If someone hadn’t pointed it out to me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed either. Instead, we just all looked at each other with grins each time he said it. Think it’s some kind of subliminal marketing gimmick? LOL
Leeyore - January 16, 2012
Thank goodness for highlights
after my Niner’s won and a bachelor party, I totally missed this game…
musamonster - January 15, 2012
Good night for hockey.......not so much football. :(
Not that I had any hope my Broncos would beat the Patriots, but that was as bad as it gets. Allowed me to pay more attention to the hockey game at least.
I remember a Flyers player say after last seasons game in Philly that playing us was like being in a track meet. From watching the Flyers this season, they don’t seem like they want to have to play full throttle for 60mins, which is why a team like ours gives them difficulty. Flyers have more talent than we do, but not the focus.
Just hope Suter and Weber don’t melt into a puddle of water by the time the regular season ends. Really wish we didn’t have to use them for almost half the game like this.
Was glad to see the Flyers put Bryzgalov in goal tonight instead of Bobrovsky, who played really well in the last two games for Philly. Not sure what has happened to Bryz, but that’s not the goalie I remember from his Phoenix days.
The good thing about a guy like Spaling scoring some goals is that it gives us, along with guys like Halischuk and Tootoo, some decent bottom 6 scoring. The bad part is that it may well lead Poile to think all is well at forward and sit pat with the roster as it is. That would be a mistake, IMO.
And the Canes beat the Bruins tonight. How, I do not know! :)
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
But
My Niners won… :)
musamonster - January 15, 2012
Whee. :/
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
Hey
they’re my Niners, too. What a great day yesterday was.
BradPerala - January 15, 2012
Just beat the Packers or Giants please. 49ers vs Ravens is what I’m hoping for now!
DonBorvio - January 15, 2012
Hurrah for the Canes.
Only Fan In J.C. ? - January 15, 2012
oh shut up. [*sob *]
CAustin - January 15, 2012
But just think, CA, the way things are going, the Bolts will get a higher pick in the draft than the Canes will. ;p
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
Surprisingly I find this notion to be of little comfort.
CAustin - January 15, 2012
Just trying to help. :)
Trade Marty to the Preds and at least one of our teams will be in a position to use his talents in the off-season. :)
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
Ha!
CAustin - January 15, 2012
But it would get so confusing with two Martys.
Oh, I think we’d figure it out…
LuvthePreds - January 15, 2012
Like I said:
Death by a thousand bee stings.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 15, 2012
Just need a king bee to add to those little stingers. :)
Grizzledbear - January 15, 2012 via mobile
I’d rather have the queen bee…. she’s the one that runs the show
Creeping Death - January 15, 2012
The Human Rocket Ship
I couldn’t help but laugh… Ellis hit was in the NHL front page headlines as “Ellis hit sends Simmonds into orbit”
Predmonton - January 15, 2012
Tonight is exactly why all teams HAVE to play a home/home series every season
The players, fans, and intensity is Preds hockey
TSCinSFO - January 15, 2012
Congrats on the win – I hope the Preds keep on winning.
TNBrando - January 15, 2012
Goo goo?
So, that’s happened now, right?
Evanbio - January 15, 2012
Nope
That’s still an elusive, mythical happenstance for Pred fans :-((
I’m beginning to think the space-time continuum would crack and Pred fans would all HURTLE THROUGH SPACE like Wayne Simmonds if it were to happen.
TitanPredBearFan - January 15, 2012 via mobile
Good win
Great day yesterday, the preds won and my 49ers beat the saints!!!!
Preds&niners - January 15, 2012 via mobile
A Brilliant Plan!
So the Preds win every time Smithson scores? Let’s just make him an 80 goal scorer. It’s as simple as that. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?
Mark Henderson - January 15, 2012
Spaling*
Preds Fanatic - January 15, 2012
Hard to score when you’re on IR. I think Weber might could manage to make it happen, though….
LuvthePreds - January 15, 2012
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