What’s spurred Preds’ shutouts?
Are you familiar with “Chelsea Dagger”? You’d probably know it if you heard it.
The 2006 pop song, performed by The Fratellis, is the Blackhawks’ goal song and doubles as the anthem of their resurgence, providing the soundtrack to their three Stanley Cups in the past seven years.
Its infectious “duh-da-da, duhda-da” hook burrows into your ears and has driven visiting teams insane, with taunting Blackhawks fans singing along on repeat.
The Predators are the first NHL team to prevent the playing of “Chelsea Dagger” in consecutive playoff games.
OK, so that won’t appear in any league record book. In reality, the Predators are the third team in history to record consecutive playoff shutouts in Chicago and the first in 15 years. Nashville also is the fifth team to open a postseason with back-to-back road shutout wins.
“I don’t think I would’ve planned for that,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said.
No one planned for the Predators to lead this first-round series after two games, either. They do because of their Game 2 dissection of the Blackhawks, carrying out their game plan with precision.
If the Predators want to grow that lead and potentially sweep the Blackhawks, then they will have to do so again, starting with Monday’s Game 3 at Bridgestone Arena (8:30 p.m., Fox TN and CNBC).
Saturday’s 5-0 effort was perhaps the clearest example of the Predators’ preferred identity this season. They were fast and relentless, attacking more than they did in Game 1 and playing defense by hogging the puck.
“They have some of the best players in the league over there,” Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “You need to try your best to limit any chances, any puck possession, anything you can.”
The outstanding play of Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne obviously has commanded attention. He’s the first NHL goaltender in seven years to start a playoff series with two shutouts, making 59 total saves in Games 1 and 2.
Rinne acknowledged his teammates for helping to make that happen. Nashville has prevented Chicago from establishing consistent net-front presence and cleanly entering the offensive zone, confining most of the Blackhawks’ attack to less dangerous areas.
When the puck has found its way to Rinne, the Predators have quickly cleared it, eliminating secondchance opportunities.
“They box out, let me see the puck,” Rinne said. “Like (Saturday), there wasn’t probably one shot where I didn’t see it. Guys (have) been doing a really good job in front of me.”
The Blackhawks eventually are going to score a goal. It’s been more than eight decades since they last opened a playoff series without a Game 1: Nashville 1, Chicago 0 Game 2: Nashville 5, Chicago 0 Today: at Nashville, 8:30 p.m., FSTN, CNBC Thursday: at Nashville, 7 p.m. x- Saturday: at Chicago, TBA x- Monday: at Nashville, TBA x- April 26: at Chicago, TBA x - If necessary goal through the first two games, and they are too skilled to be totally silenced.
As long as the Predators can maintain the style that worked in Chicago, they can deepen the Blackhawks’ frustration.
“The last two games have gone our way, but it’s far from over,” Ellis said. “We need to continue to keep doing the same things.”
Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.