Predators Salvage A Point Against the Wild

The Nashville Predators traveled to Minnesota and came away with a point in a game that the Wild won 5-4 in overtime.

The Wild got the winning goal on an odd play where Guillaume Latendresse took a shot from the left goal line past a sprawling Pekka Rinne. The puck hit the side of the net and kicked straight out to Andrew Ebbett who wristed the puck into an open net for the final tally.

The Predators got of to a bad start in the first period as they turned the puck over repeatedly in their defensive zone. Barry Trotz was very upset with the puck management that had led to a 3-2 deficit for the Preds at the end of the first period.

The Preds tied it up in the second on a goal by Steve Sullivan on a play that was mishandled by Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom.

The Wild and Preds traded goals in the third that set up the overtime period.

In an unusual display of offense by the Preds, Jason Arnott scored two goals and added an assist in the game. Even more impressive was Steve Sullivan's one goal and three assists, plus 3 performance. Marcel Goc added the other Predator goal. J.P. Dumont also had a pair of assists.

Pekka Rinne allowed five goals on 27 shots but was repeatedly hung out to dry by mis-plays in the defensive zone.

The game also featured a heavyweight battle between Wade Belak and Derek Boogaard at the mid point of the first period that served little purpose at all other than to justify the two players taking up a roster spot for the evening.

The road trip won't get any easier as the Preds left for Chicago immediately after the game where they will face the Blackhawks on Friday night before returning home to Nashville to face the Wild again on Saturday night.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass