The Predators might have been ready had the game been at the customary 7pm start time. As it was, game 2 of the series with the Sharks began at noon Sunday and the boys showed up like they were expecting the morning skate in front of 17,000+. 3-0? No, really, 3 to nothing???
The Predators might be tempted to blame the refs who really did give fans something to complain about. Two of San Jose's goals came on 5 on three advantages given to them on lousy calls. When's the last time you saw "kneeing" called? But the fact is that Nashville really did nothing well enough to win Sunday. Kariya? Nope. Keemo? Uh uh. Legwand? Wathced the game from the penalty box. Mason? Mason? You can make a case that the guy hung tough. Maybe one goal he could've done something about. But after the first period he shut 'em down. The offense just wasn't there. Might have been at Tootsie's, I don't know. There were flashes and flurreis - they picked it up as the game went along. But you never got the feeling they had a chance to recover. The Shark known as Toskala really came to play - not to mention Cheecho and Thornton. Fins to the left, fins to the right...
So they go west to San Jose. Game 3 is Tuesday at 9:30 hockey-tonk time. I bet it's going to be worth staying up for. Some of the more notable players were humbled in front of a sellout crowd ready to cheer for just about anything. They have too much pride and competitive drive.
I'm looking for them to take one out of 2 out there and come back to Nashville next Sunday on a clean slate. The national media will dismiss our chances again. That's the way I want it. These guys will get it done.
