Why Nashville Predators need Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kotitsyn –NHL Playoffs Special
There might be something that happened between head coach, Barry Trotz, and the Nashville Predators’ two forwards, Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn, besides them violating team curfew rules but the coach has to understand, without them playing Game
5, his team could potentially be out of the Stanley Cup race for good.
Trotz showed the two players that the Predators did not need them at all during Game 3 in which they were suspended, but as Phoenix Coyotes bounced back in Game 4 of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Western Conference Playoff Semi-Finals,
having them back has become more of a need instead of a want.
There is no doubt in the fact that having both Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn on the line-up could have made an impact in one way or another and not having them just made Predators weaker as a team.
"I thought we generated lots of chances, just didn't find the back of the net in the end," Predators coach, Barry Trotz, said. "Take away the first period -- [in the] second and third period I thought we played very well. Got some quality chances and couldn't
find the back of the net."
Seeing how Nashville missed to capitalise on any shot during Game 4, having a player like Alexander Radulov, who leads the team in postseason points with six and Kostitsyn with four points of his own would add that offensive depth needed to pursue victory
through scoring.
Whatever the situation might be, Trotz is not seeming to budge at the moment and has not given a clear cut answer on the situation whether Alexander Radulov and Andrie Kostitsyn will be playing or not.
"My rationale, I told you my rationale this morning," Trotz said Friday. "How will I defend it? I don't think I have to defend it. I mean, the guys got chances, we created chances. A guy like Colin Wilson, who was very good, had more points than Kostitsyn
for the year, so I don't think that's much of a trade-off.”
On the other hand, there is no way of saying that Nashville Predators would have won the match they lost at home due to not having the two players because Phoenix Coyotes were just amazing in every aspect of their game.
Mike Smith was on top again, blocking every single shot for a total of 25 acrobatic saves in front of the net while the Phoenix defensemen did a great job in limiting the Nashville opportunities in their end.
Shane Doan and the offensive squad were determined to get as many chances they could and certainly did not fail to do so.
Game 5 just might be a surprising turnaround for Nashville Predators as Alexander Radulov and Andrie Kostitsyn could be back or Phoenix could be one of the first teams to advance into the conference finals.
Either way, Game 5 will certainly be exciting and a must-watch matchup.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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