The Nashville Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings yesterday 3-1 in what was the very first playoff hockey game to be played in the state of Tennessee. Not a bad way to start. Yours truly was lucky enough to be at the game, and let me tell you- the crowd was ELECTRIC. Tomas Vokoun made 41 saves - including 22 in the third period - that literally carried the day for the Preds. The Red Wings were down 2-0 going in to the third period and everyone knew that they would come out swinging. Detroit has a cast of hall-of-famers on their squad, and anytime they want to put the heat on, you better have a goalie playing out of his head. Vokoun rose to the occasion and completely shut down the wings in the third, only giving up a tough bouncer early in the period from Brett Hull (third all time scoring leader in the NHL). For a city that has become accustomed to the Titans, who have been to the playoffs all but one year over the last six, Nashville expects their teams to play this way at home, and yesterday was no exception. The Preds were never intimidated by a Red Wings squad that is by far bigger and stronger. Using their speed and havoc wreaking forward Jordin Tootoo, the Wings were never able to get in the groove. Tootoo, although not very effective with the puck, was able to get the crowd and the team fired up every time he took the ice. Not that it looked like anyone on the Preds needed firing up, as Adam Hall continued his playoff scoring ways with the game winning goal.
A great day for Preds fans, and all hockey fans in Tennessee. The team with the lowest payroll in the NHL takes down a team filled with living legends to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive.
We still have a series here folks. If the Preds can pull another one out on Tuesday, there will be a game six in Nashville. Congratulations to the Nashville Predators, as this win was well earned....
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