Nashville Predators Drop Preseason Overtime Matchup
The Nashville Predators continue their long-standing tradition of losing in 3 vs. 3 overtime, but it’s still too early to panic… right?
The Nashville Predators were in Columbus Tuesday night squaring off against the Blue Jackets in their fifth of six scheduled preseason bouts. The game featured goaltender Pekka Rinne‘s first appearance since returning from World Cup action, but it was the return of an old Smashville nemesis- the 3 vs. 3 overtime- that would decide the matchup.
There were a number of takeaways from the 3-2 overtime loss to Columbus- beginning with the biggest name for either team on the ice that night, P.K. Subban.
Subban had a little something in store for both his detractors and fans that night, starting things off with an erroneous giveaway (which is a concern that comes with his game) in front of the Smashville net, leading to a 1-0 Blue Jacket lead within the first two minutes of the game.
The defenseman then flashed some of his superstar brilliance by tallying a short-handed goal deep into the second period. That puts Subban at 3 points through 2 preseason games with the Nashville Predators- with a goal-a-game average.
Driving the net and marking an assist on the short-handed goal was young winger Kevin Fiala, who has been making a strong push to make the team. Last night’s performance only strengthened his case.
Second-year left winger Viktor Arvidsson had an adamant statement to make about the possibility of Fiala taking his role, as he scored on a blazing wraparound goal. The goal showed off Arvy’s tremendous speed and skating ability- exactly the kind of thing head coach Peter Laviolette likes to stock on his roster.
What a play by Viktor Arvidsson, and we’re tied! #Preds #CBJvsNSH pic.twitter.com/oPDiVMgVdo
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) October 5, 2016
Arvidsson’s goal tied the game up at 2-2 and sent the preseason matchup into the depths of the Nashville Predators nightmares: 3 vs. 3 overtime. Last season was the first year the NHL ran with the newly formatted OT period, and the Nashville Predators recorded an appalling 2-12 record in games decided during the 5 bonus minutes.
Hopes were high that the addition of a puck-moving elite defenseman like P.K. Subban would help turn the tide for non-5-on-5 ice activity. And early indications show that it seems to be working for the powerplay, even short-handed play, of all things.
But the presence of Subban wasn’t enough to overcome the 3 vs. 3 overtime gremlin in his first taste with the team, as CBJ’s William Karlsson potted the game winner into the gaping net behind Pekka Rinne. The Nashville Predators preseason OT record is now an ominous 0-2, with both losses coming at the hands of the Blue Jackets.
Too early to fret? Of course. Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and Ryan Ellis all weren’t on the roster and are guaranteed to be slated for overtime action during the regular season. But if you want a potential cause for concern: Rinne stopped only 20 of 23 shots for a .870 save percentage. And while it’s not fair to judge based upon a one-game sample size, that percentage falls outside of the top 50 goaltender performances last season.
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