Tag: Ryan Ellis

Double Dose for Avalanche: Predators Sweep Back-to-Back Games

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Pekka Rinne makes an unbelievable save against Colorado’s Milan Hejduk.

 

On Tuesday night, the Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche began a two-game back-t0-back schedule, starting out in Denver, then moving the action to Nashville on Thursday. The Predators and the Avalanche only meet three times during this season, and with the first two being back-t0-back, both teams were looking to dominate the two-game series. Since we’re writing this with the Philadelphia game tonight in Nashville, we’ll shorten both games with the highlights of both games. That, and you probably already know who dominated the two-game series…!

 

Tuesday in Denver :

  •  Jerred Smithson and Jack Hillen found themselves scratched for the night in Denver. Although Jack Hillen’s scratch was a healthy one, Smithson’s was a little more complicated. Due to an undetermined lower-body injury, Smithson’s condition could render him out for a few games.
  • The Predators came out in Denver with hunger in their eyes, completely dominating the first period. The Predators in the first period alone had thirteen shots compared to the Avalanche’s six, if that tells you anything.
  • Nick Spaling drew blood first at 4:31 in the first period, with assistance from Jordin Tootoo and rookie Gabriel Bourque.
  • Thanks to a tripping penalty from Colorado’s T.J. Galiardi, Ryan Ellis was able to notch his second NHL career goal at 7:41 on the power play. He was assisted by Martin Erat and fellow rookie Roman Josi.
  • From his assist on Ellis’s goal, Martin Erat was quick to make a goal of his own at 15:05 with assistance from Mike Fisher and Ryan Suter.
  • Ryan O’Reilly would put the Avalanche on the board at 19:24 of the second period on a power play due to a hooking call on Francis Bouillon, but it wasn’t enough for the Avalanche to stop the Predators.
  • Patric Hornqvist would finish up the game with a goal at 15:34 in the 3rd period with assistance from Ryan Ellis.
  • As this season has proven, anytime Nick Spaling scores, the Predators haven’t lost in regulation. Nick Spaling should score more often.
  • Pekka was also on his game Tuesday night, blocking 32 of 33 shots on goal. Although the Avalanche were able to score their one and only goal on the PP, both the Predators and the Avalanche had the same amount of penalty chances. Here are the three Predators who sat in the box:
  1.  Matt Halischuk – 2:53 2nd Period – Interference on Goalkeeper
  2. Francis Bouillon – 18:25 2nd Period – Hooking
  3. Patric Hornqvist – 0:15 3rd Period – Interference
  • It was clear the Avalanche were not prepared for complete domination from the Predators Tuesday night, but were they more prepared for Nashville on Thursday night…?

 

Thursday in Nashville:

  • Both Jack Hillen and Jerred Smithson were scratched again against Colorado, with Smithson’s injury still tying him down.
  • Although the Predators dominated the Avalanche in Colorado, the Avalanche were more prepared when they arrived in Nashville, with Ryan O’Reilly scored unassisted at 6:09, putting Colorado on the board first.
  • At 12:17, Gabriel Landeskog put the Avalanche up 2-0, sending the Predators into panic mode.
  • In the 2nd period, David Legwand gave the Predators their first goal of the game at 11:02 with assistance from Matt Halischuk and Francis Bouillion.
  • Sergei Kostitsyn tied the game for the Predators at 8:48 in the 3rd period, with assistance from Mike Fisher and Roman Josi. Neither team was able to score again, thus throwing the game into overtime.
  • Thirty-four seconds into over time, David Legwand was able to slip one passed Colorado’s goalie, Jean-Sebastien Giguere to seal the game in the Predators favor.
  • Although they dominated the game in Denver, the Predators did not out-shoot the Avalanche, where as they did during this game 35 to 29. Even though Pekka let a few more get passed him than during the first game, he was still able to block 27 of 29.
  • The Predators also had six chances to score on the power play, but did not capitalize on any of them. The Avalanche were only given two chances, yet nor did they use them to their advantage (and they were given a double minor). Here are the two Preds that spent some unwanted time in the penalty box:
  1. David Legwand – 6:49 1st Period – Cross Checking
  2. Craig Smith – 16:17 1st Period – Hi-Sticking (double minor)
  •  Due to the snowy weather outside, the Predators were only 200 tickets short of another sellout, but Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers is sure to fix that issue.

 

For a team to collect all four available points on a back-t0-back series is pretty outstanding, even if one of them went into over time. The next time the Predators will see the Avalanche will be Thursday, March 8th. Hopefully, by that time, Shane O’Brien will be off the Injured Reserve (he was placed on it just days before the first meeting on Tuesday).

The Predators welcome the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7PM, then are off to New York to face the Islanders and the Rangers next week. The Predators will return to Nashville on Saturday, January 21st to face the Chicago Blackhawks.

Until tonight,
GO PREDS.

(Photo credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)

Keeping Up with the Predators: Tootoo and 5K

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The Predators salute to the fans after a great win!

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, we made mention of these events earlier today. However, since we’ve had a ton of hits to the site wanting to know more about these events, we just figured we’d go ahead and post something about them here! Clear your schedules for tomorrow and February 4th – You’ve got stuff to do!

Jordin Tootoo Radio Show
When: January 11th (Tomorrow)
Time: 7PM to 8PM
Where: Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery (West End Avenue)
Price: FREE!
Don’t forget camera and items to be autographed! Tootoo’s special guest tomorrow night will be rookie Ryan Ellis!

Nashville Predators Fangtastic 5K Run/Walk
When: February 4th
Time: 7:30 to 9:30AM – Registration; 10AM – Race begins; 7PM Preds vs. Blues
Where: Bridgestone Arena
Price: Before February 4th – $40.00; Day of Race – $45.00 (price includes a Fangtastic 5K shirt and ticket vouchers to the following games on the 4th, the 7th, and the 14th. Additional tickets can be purchased for $25!)
$5 of the proceeds of the Run/Walk will go to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt! Always a great time and, not only do you get some exercise, it goes to a great cause and you get tickets to a game! You can register early here!

There you have it, folks! Two ways to enjoy the Predators and who isn’t excited about exercise?! Hey, you get tickets to the game afterwards, you’ll be fine… just walk it!

GO PREDS.

(Photo credit: Leanne Charles)

Predators knock the Wind out of Hurricanes, Win 5-2

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Rookie Ryan Ellis with the puck that landed his first NHL goal.

Yet another franchise record was broken last night, as the Predators sold out their 8th consecutive game against the Carolina Hurricanes. And, with this sell out, the Predators also came out swinging, knocking the wind out of the Hurricanes 5-2. Here are the highlights from last night’s extraordinary win:

KEY POINTS

  • Colin Wilson made his return to the ice last night after suffering from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for a number of games. Brian McGrattan and Jack Hillen sat out as healthy scratches for the night, giving the rookies some more time to familiarize with the NHL.
  • Shea Weber got the game going with his ninth goal of the season at 9:14 in the first period. Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn assisted on Shea’s goal.
  • Craig Smith wasted little time sending the Predators up 2-0 at 13:16 in the first, smacking a one-timer passed Justin Peters. This was Smith’s first goal in fifteen games and he was assisted by Colin Wilson and David Legwand on the power play.
  • Patric Hornqvist would handle the next two goals, both on the power play advantage. The first goal was at 17:04 in the 2nd period, with assistance from Mike Fisher and Ryan Ellis. His second goal was at 6:56 in the 3rd, with assistance from Martin Erat and Mike Fisher.
  • In what should have been Hornqvist’s third goal of the night, the goal was placed under review and was deemed a “no goal” due to a kicking motion. However, in review of the play, there wasn’t a foot in sight and the fans were vocally upset about Horny’s Hat Trick being taken away. Hats were still thrown to the ice, nevertheless.
  • Carolina scored their first goal at 8:35 in the 3rd from Jay Harrison, finally putting the Hurricanes on the board (and the free doughnut was lost). Harrison would also score the second and last goal for the Hurricanes at 17:56 on the power play.
  • Rookie Ryan Ellis scored the game-winning goal for the Predators at 14:28, his first career NHL goal. Mike Fisher and rookie Roman Josi helped assist the goal.
  • The Predators, though a bit sloppy at first, outplayed the Hurricanes by a mile and a half. Not only did the Predators out score the Hurricanes 36 to 29, they also only gave the Hurricanes two power plays, whereas Carolina gave the Predators five (four of which the Predators capitalized on). Here are the two Predators who faced penalty time:
  1. Jordin Tootoo – 12:58 2nd Period – Slashing
  2. Roman Josi – 16:12 3rd Period – Hooking

After Thursday’s disheartening loss to the Dallas Stars, a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes was just what the Predators needed to hit the road to Colorado on Tuesday. Also with this win, thanks to the L.A. King’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Predators have now moved up in the Western Conference standings.
After Tuesday’s trip to Denver, both teams will meet again, this time to play in Smashville. We welcome the return of Shane O’Brien, most definitely.

Until then,
GO PREDS.

(Photo credit: Nashville Predators)