New York Rangers and Talbot Defeated in Close Game with Predators
95. 3. 151. Final. 2
FIRST PERIOD: Without their number one goaltender, the New York Rangers knew they couldn’t afford to give much slack in their own zone to the Nashville Predators, one of the top teams in the league. Goalie Cam Talbot proved to be an expert in his field nevertheless, keeping the puck in play and blocking every big chance for the Preds. Though at one point, half the team piled into the crease to keep Nashville from finding twine. Former Predator, Kevin Klein, proved to be especially important in the pile up as he batted away an incoming puck with a stick save. Rangers defense continued to shine as Dan Girardi knocked down Colin Wilson with a clean but hard shoulder-to-shoulder hit, taking Wilson out of the game. The first penalty then came at 19:21 on Filip Forsberg for holding, the Rangers power play carrying over into the next period. The Rangers outshot the Predators, 10-8, in this one.
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SECOND PERIOD: Although it was a slower paced period, we saw an early chance for the Rangers. A turnover found Rick Nash going hard to the net but goalie Pekka Rinne was able to stop him. Rangers’ Jesper Fast then collided into the boards and then took a solid hit that left him with a leg injury, preventing him from returning to the ice. At 10:38, Shea Weber was called for interference, giving New York the man advantage. We were then welcomed to Nashtyville at 11:49 when Nash (33) buried a power play goal on a backhand shot, putting Rangers in the lead, 1-0. Derick Brassard (25) and Kevin Hayes (12) registered assists there. It wasn’t long until the Preds tied the game with Roman Josi‘s (10) slapshot at 18:39, assisted by Gabriel Bourque (5) and Calle Jarnkrok (9). Seconds later at 19:20, Weber (12) shot the puck straight through Talbot’s body…kidding, but it was really a hard slapshot that couldn’t be stopped by any goalie. Josi (27) and Matt Cullen (6) grabbed the assists and Nashville stole the lead at 2-1, despite being down in shots, 12-10.
THIRD PERIOD: The pace picked back up, yet a clear high stick to Zucc’s face was completely missed by the refs. Then Mike Ribeiro split the Rangers D and got a scary good look at the net but Talbot came up big. Talbot then robbed Forisberg at the door step moments later. Momentum then shifted back in favor of the Rangers with most of the action in the Predators defensive zone. The extra effort by the Blueshirts never showed up on the scoreboard however as Ribeiro (11) sent a slap shot through traffic and the puck hit net at 12:46, bringing Nashville ahead, 3-2. Seth Jones (14) and Forsberg (30) logged the assists there. With an empty net for the Rangers, the Preds almost got a goal with a shot off the post. Zucc’s stick then got caught on Fisher’s skates and Nashville went on the power play at 18:29. The Preds shot wide of the empty net a couple times but the game ended with the score still at 3-2. The Rangers held the edge in shots, 10-5, this period and actually dominated at the dot, up 40-24 in face-off wins, but the Preds took the two points.
STARS OF THE GAME:
1 – Roman Josi
2 – Mike Ribeiro
3 – Ryan McDonagh