Nashville Predators pull out win over Atlanta Thrashers
The Nashville Predators were able to score a late goal against the Atlanta Thrashers to pull off an exciting 4-3 victory. In a game that did not see many penalties, the flow was uninhibited and the two sides were able to fire several shots on goal with the
Thrashers notching 28 and the Predators testing the Atlanta keeper 30 times.
The Predators went with a line-up, which may be exactly the same as the one they will dress on opening night. The club included all their starting centres and was deep on the blue line playing both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. However, the Preds gave the full
60 minutes to young net-minder Anders Lindback, as they continue to test out back-up goalies.
The Thrashers also went with a veteran line-up, which included Nik Antropov, Bryan Little and the recently acquired Andrew Ladd and Ben Eager. The club did however elect to sit out Dustin Byfuglien. The Thrashers gave the full start to goaltender Chris Mason.
The Predators got the scoring started 10 minutes into the first period with a goal from Martin Erat. Erat took a pass from Aaron Johnson and slotted home a wrist shot past Mason.
However, Atlanta was able to counter with a power-play goal off the stick of Nigel Dawes. Dawes snapped one home after getting a pass from Johnny Oduya. Dawes is with the Thrashers on a pro try-out and looks to be in line to receive a contract from the club
after having an impressive camp.
In the second period the Predators power play went to work, first Suter wrist one home after receiving a pass form Patric Hornqvist and Erat. The Thrashers then gave Nashville another chance on the power play and the Predators took full advantage. This time
Erat converted his second of the night, after handling a pass from Suter.
Nevertheless, the Thrashers did not go quietly, as Freddy Meyer made a case for himself snapping one past Lindback with the helpers coming from Evander Kane and Rich Peverley at the 11-minute mark of the second.
Only three minutes later, tough guy Eager was able to get himself on the board with a snap shot, after getting a nice pass from youngster Zach Bogosian. The goal knotted the game up at three heading into the second intermission.
However, the Predators proved to be the better team on the day with David Legwand firing home the game winner eight minutes into the third. Joel Ward and Johnson helped Legwand on drawing the assists on the marker.
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