Preds tie series at 2-2 with 3-0 win
Another soldout house at the Gaylord Entertainment Center watched the Nashville Predators tie their best-of-seven Western Conference Quarterfinals playoff series against the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings at 2-2 with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night. Led by a 41-save effort from goalie Tomas Vokoun and goals from Steve Sullivan, Vladimir Orszagh and Greg Johnson, the Predators now head back to Detroit for Game 5 with the series' last two victories.
Allow me to remind everyone, Nashville has THE LOWEST payroll in the NHL right now, and during the year they were still lucky to break even. Detroit has more all-stars/soon-to-be Hall of Famers on one team than probably any team in the playoffs right now. If there ever was a more lopsided matchup by the numbers, I haven't seen it. But during the season, the Preds and Wings, who are in the same division, split the games they played against each other, 3-3. Perhaps the match that lit the fire behind this years season for the Preds was their come-from-behind win against Detroit back in November. After that win, the Preds gained a level of confidence that has carried them on in to the playoffs despite having the least amount of talent and size compared to the rest of the playoff teams. They really are this years cinderella story. The question is, can they carry this momentum back to Detroit?
The Joe Louis Arena will not be an easy place to do it. Detroit had the best home record this year, and I wonder how much longer Vokoun can hold out. His has stopped 82 of 83 shots in the last two games, and one has to wonder- with all of the offensive firepower of Detroit, can they be held scoreless for that much longer?
As it said, this is why they play 'em...........GO PREDS BABEE!!
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