Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators
(Dallas Stars lead the series 1-0)
In Game 2 of this series…
In the first period, tempers would flare out with a lot of pushing and shoving near the net post whistles and the Predators could not find their way out of the penalty box with Austin Watson being called for a slashing penalty early in the period. Mattias Ekholm would be issued a double minor half way through the period. In the final five minutes of the contest, both teams would get several possessions of the puck and each team would do their best to get the puck to the back of the net. Toward the end of the period, Dallas’ Roman Polak and Nashville’s Blake Comeau would both be dealt matching roughing penalties. Look for Nashville’s forward to come out with firepower to get the goals. Dallas will look to rely on Ben Bishop to play lights out and prevent Nashville from getting any goals.
In the second period, Jamie Benn would get an early goal. Rocco Grimaldi would later tie the game at 1 two minutes later in the contest. This would be Grimaldi’s first postseason goal. During a scramble, Dallas Mattias Janmark would take a hit and as a precaution, he left the ice to be looked at. Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm would be called for boarding, his third penalty in the contest. On that penalty kill, Nashville would prevent the Stars from scoring, after having several chances and good looks at the net. The second period would end with good chances by both teams but much like the end of the first period, neither team would take advantage of the chances. Going into the third period, both teams need to whatever they can to avoid the penalty box, as it is a critical period in the contest, especially for the Predators.
The third period would be a period in which both teams would not take any calculated risks, as they were both avoiding the penalty box. There would also be a strong defencive showing from both teams throughout the first six minutes of the period. At the 13:35 mark in the period, both teams would take shots at each other, throwing punches. This would lead to a penalty being called on Nashville’s Craig Smith at the 6:35 mark. There would not be any other action going on as both teams did their best to move the puck around and take shots at the net. The game would remain tied at 1 heading into the overtime frame.
To start out the overtime frame, Nashville would spend the first 90 seconds in Dallas’ zone getting several shots on net, but none would net the game winner. When Dallas gained momentum on the next faceoff, the Stars had a great shot at a goal before Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne made the save. Craig Smith would get his first postseason goal on the 2019 postseason with a bouncing puck that would get past Ben Bishop and give the Nashville Predators the 2-1 win in overtime and tie the series at 1 game a piece.
Dallas Stars Lines and Defencive Pairings
Jason Dickinson-Tyler Seguin-Alexander Radulov
Jamie Benn-Roope Hintz-Mats Zuccarello
Andrew Cogliano-Radek Faksa-Blake Comeau
Mattias Janmark-Justin Dowling-Tyler Pitlick
Esa Lindell-John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen-Roman Polak
Taylor Fedun-Ben Lovejoy
Ben Bishop
Anton Khudobin
Injuries: Stephen Johns (upper body), Marc Methot (lower body), Martin Hanzal (back), Brett Ritchie (hand)
Scratched: Julius Honka, Jason Spezza, Jamie Oleksiak, Valeri Nichushkin
Nashville Predators Lines and Defencive Pairings
Filip Forsberg-Ryan Johansen-Viktor Arvidsson
Mikael Granlund-Kyle Turris-Craig Smith
Colton Sissons-Nick Bonino-Austin Watson
Rocco Grimaldi-Calle Jarnkrok-Wayne Simmonds
Roman Josi-Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm-P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis-Dante Fabbro
Pekka Rinne
Juusa Saros
Injured: none
Scratched: Brian Boyle, Matt Irwin, Yannick Weber, Rem Pitlick, Zac Rinaldo, Miikka Salomaki, Cody McLeod, Frederick Gaudreau, Niclas Westerholm
First Period:
Dallas Penalty: Mats Zuccarello for Slashing — 2 min minor — 4:03
Nashville Penalty: Austin Watson for Roughing — 2 min minor — 7:29
Nashville Penalty: Mattias Ekholm for Interference — 2 min minor — 10:55
Nashville Penalty: Mattias Ekholm for Unsportsmanlike Conduct — 2 min minor — 10:55
Dallas Penalty: Roman Polak for Interference — 2 min minor — 15:49
Dallas Penalty: Blake Comeau for Roughing — 2 min minor — 16:36
Nashville Penalty: Mikael Granlund for Roughing — 2 min minor — 16:36
End of 1st – DAL – 0 NSH – 0
Shots 09 15
Faceoffs 07 12
Hits 05 06
PP 0/3 0/2
Second Period:
Dallas Goal: Jamie Benn (1) assisted by Tyler Seguin (1) — 1:59
Nashville Goal: Rocco Grimaldi (1) assisted by Austin Watson (1) and Calle Jarnkrok (1) — 3:56
Nashville Penalty: Mattias Ekholm for Boarding — 2 min minor — 5:20
Dallas Penalty: Tyler Seguin for Interference — 2 min minor — 10:43
Nashville Penalty: Roman Josi for Cross-checking — 2 min minor — 13:10
End of 2nd – DAL – 1 NSH – 1
Shots 00 00
Faceoffs 15 27
Hits 00 00
PP 0/5 0/3
Third Period
Nashville Penalty: Craig Smith for Roughing — 2 min minor — 6:25
End of 3rd – DAL – 1 NSH – 1
Shots 21 37
Faceoffs 25 36
Hits 16 20
PP 0/6 0/3
Overtime:
Nashville Goal: Craig Smith (1) assisted by Mattias Ekholm (2) and Calle Jarnkrok (2) — 5:00
End of OT – DAL – 1 NSH – 2
Shots 23 43
Faceoffs 29 42
Hits 17 23
PP 0/6 0/3
My Three Stars of the Game:
First Star: Nashville F Craig Smith (Game winning goal)
Second Star: Dallas Stars G Ben Bishop (41 saves)
Third Star: Nashville G Pekka Rinne (22 saves)
Game 3 takes place in Dallas on Monday night.
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