No Southern hospitality
Predators’ next goal: Avoid hosting Pens’ party in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Predators have shut down the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Getzlaf this postseason.
They have slowed down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Stopping them completely? Even Predators defenders Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and All-Star P.K. Subban are susceptible to an off night as they find out just how hard it is to keep track of Penguins superstar forwards.
“It just seems to be like every second game, they’re talking about how good we play defense and then the other game they talk about how good they are as an offense,” Ekholm said Friday. “And that’s just going to be like (that). It’s worldclass players. We can’t shut them down game after game.”
The Predators need another great defensive performance Sunday night in Game 6 or they will watch the Penguins celebrate a second straight Stanley Cup championship, on their ice, in front of their frenzied “Smashville” fans, catfish and all. The Penguins took a 3-2 lead Thursday night by routing the Predators 6-0 in a game that did more than just put the Pens a win from the title.
Ellis, who plays with Josi as the Predators’ top defensive pair, skated only 10 minutes, 44 seconds during the loss. He lasted just two shifts into the second period before he went to the bench in pain.
Predators coach Peter Laviolette gave no update on Ellis on Friday. His teammates weren’t sharing any information either. Whether Laviolette will start goalie Pekka Rinne isn’t a question, despite the 34-year-old Finn giving up three goals on nine shots before being pulled after the first period. Not with Rinne 9-1 at home this postseason.
This is the first time the Predators have faced elimination this postseason after sweeping the Blackhawks, beating the Blues in six games and then the Ducks in six to claim the Western Conference title.
“We need to play a better game,” Laviolette said.