It could have been easy for the Predators to overlook last night’s opponent, Columbus, with the game being sandwiched in between dates with rival Chicago. Predators teams in the past may have fallen into that trap of taking the Blue Jackets – dead-last in the NHL with 32 points – lightly with a crucial game just 24 hours away. However, this Predators team was focused on getting two points last night, and it showed in their 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
“We go way back with the Blue Jackets,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “We have a rivalry and we know they’re going to come hard against us no matter what the situation is or their position in the standings.”
Head coach Barry Trotz stressed that the Blue Jackets have given the Preds a tough push all season, despite his team winning the season series with a 5-0-1 mark. Four of the six games were decided by one goal, and the Preds needed a couple dramatic comebacks along the way.
“This is the one game that wasn’t as close, in terms of the score, as the other (games against Columbus). They challenge us all the time,” Trotz said.
Last weekend, Trotz stated that this version of the Predators has moved beyond falling into trap games against weaker opponents when a big game is next on the slate.
“You always have to respect your opponent,” Trotz said. “I think we’ve learned that lesson a couple times this year.”
Now the focus shifts to tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, who the Preds trail by just two points for third place in the Central Division. The Preds also sit two points behind St. Louis, five points behind Detroit. Rinne expects the team to be ready for the challenge at the United Center, as the Blackhawks look to avenge a 5-2 loss in Nashville on Saturday.
“I think everybody is used to playing back-to-back games,” he said. “There are no excuses.”
***
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Predators 4, Blue Jackets 1
Smashville 24/7 3 stars of the night:
1. Mike Fisher (2 goals)
2. Pekka Rinne (25 saves)
3. Matt Halischuk (1 goal)
Recaps around the blogosphere:
| Preds On The Glass | Inside Smashville | Section 303 |
| Puck Scene | Hockey Night in Nashville | On The Forecheck |
Play of the game:
http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter/embed.swf
