Minnesota Wild get fifth straight over Nashville Predators 3-2 -NHL Match Update
Minnesota continued playing strong by winning their fifth straight contest over Nashville for their longest win record in the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season and secured the top position in the Western Conference with 29 points as the Wild overtook the Predators, 3-2, Wednesday night, November 23, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States.
Jordin Tootoo fired off his second straight goal in back-to-back matchups in the opening five minutes of the first period after the Predators managed to kill off an early penalty awarded to their player, Martin Erat, for hooking.
"I think it was just a matter of guys talking to each other and saying eventually they're going to crack," Minneosta’s Kyle Brodziak said. "We're sticking with the same program. It's working right now. They're not an easy team to play against. They don't give up easy goals. But I think that's the most impressive thing tonight. We didn't get frustrated."
After a scoreless second period in which both teams managed to kill of two respective penalties before the midway mark, Dany Heatley kicked off the Minnesota scoring at the 1:05 mark in the third and final period, followed by Kyle Brodziak on a power play and Cal Clutterbuckshorthanded when teammate, Nick Johnson, was sent out for boarding.
Nashville’s veteran goalie, Pekka Rinne, faced only eight shots in the third period and after blocking 22 straight shots, he fell short on three straight which led the Predators to their third straight loss.
"I was going to come play the puck and it kind of stopped and I changed my mind and I fell down," Rinne said. "It's just terrible; I lost the game for us."
Ryan Suter added the final of the night for Nashville on their last power play opportunity, after which they failed to shoot the equaliser or even take the lead.
Minnesota will be looking to get a sixth straight against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday while the Nashville Predators have business of their own to settle when they visit Detroit to face off against the Red Wings on Saturday.
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