The Morning After: Overtime Winner Was High Drama

Game five demons from the past appeared to be in full control of the Predators - Ducks game last night when Jason Blake found himself wide open in front of the Predators net with 5:44 remaining in the game. His goal put the Ducks ahead 3-2 and appeared to have added to the list of five other game five nightmares for the Predators.


This year's team has seemed different than the ones from the past all season. Mike Fisher thought so too when he won a face off with 38 seconds remaining that set off a series of events that exorcised a few demons. The puck went from the faceoff circle to Cody Franson who sent it over to Shea Weber who unleashed a bomb that threaded its way through a host of Predators and Ducks and tied the game 3-3 with 36 seconds left when all appeared lost a few seconds earlier.

In overtime, the Predators were playing defense first and trying to keep the Ducks big scorers from getting a quick goal that would seal the deal. When Jerred Smithson banged in the game winning goal, the Preds had Jordin Tootoo and Nick Spaling who got assists on the play as well as Jon Blum and Kevin Klein.

That lineup would not be described as an offensive powerhouse but in true Predator fashion good defense, hard forechecking, and going to the dirty areas produced just enough offense to win.

Game five will be at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Bridgestone Arena.

Preds-Ducks Round-Up...

Here is our game story from last night. We also had the videos of Bobby Ryan's goal as compared to Mario Lemieux's famous goal that several have compared to Ryan's goal.

One of the best games stories came from Adrian Dater at SI.

Josh Cooper had his game story, notes column, and postgame ponderings.

David Boclair has his story at The City Paper.

From the blog world reports come from Amanda DiPaolo, Mark Willoughby, Dirk Hoag (with his advances stats), Jeremy Gover, Jas Faulkner, Paul McCann, Predatorial, Fang Finger Fever, Fang Faction, What the Puck, and Hockey Night in Nashville.


The other side of the story comes from The OC Register, Long Beach Press Telegram, L A Times, Ducks Blog, Quackalakin', Anaheim Calling, Battle of California, Ducks and Cover, Ducks Daily Blog, and Ducks and Pucks.

Here are the video highlights from NHL.com.



More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass