The Predators open the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs with a Western Conference Quarterfinals matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. The Predators went 3-3-2 against the Red Wings during the regular season. Here's a quick look back at the regular season series between the Preds and Wings. Game-by-Game Results Nov. 7 at Detroit: Red Wings 3, Predators 2 (SO) Osgood vs. Mason (Datsyuk SO winner) Game Highlights A valiant third-period comeback by the Nashville Predators earned the squad a valuable point in the standings Wednesday night, though they fell to Detroit in a shootout, 3-2, at Joe Louis Arena. The Preds battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation getting goals from Ryan Suter and J.P. Dumont in addition to a heroic 43-save performance by goaltender Chris Mason. Nov. 22 at Sommet Center: Predators 3, Red Wings 2 Mason vs. Hasek (Bonk GWG) Game Highlights A Radek Bonk power play goal at 2:22 of the third, and solid penalty killing all night lifted the Nashville Predators to a clutch, 3-2 win over the rival Detroit Red Wings in front of 14,346 at the Sommet Center on Thanksgiving night. The Predators end a stretch of eight consecutive contests against Central Division opponents with a robust 5-1-2 record, and they are now 7-1-2 in the month of November. Dec. 10 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 2, Predators 1 Osgood vs. Ellis (Filppula GWG) Game Highlights Two early goals, one coming via a penalty shot, was the difference as the Nashville Predators outplayed the Detroit Red Wings in the final 40 minutes of regulation, but fell short by a 2-1 margin on Monday night at the Sommet Center. It was the first time in three games this season that the Predators had not earned a point against the top team in the National Hockey League. Feb. 12 at Sommet Center: Predators 4, Red Wings 2 Mason vs. Osgood/Howard (Dumont GWG) Game Highlights The Predators scored on three of their first four shots to grab a 3-0 lead 8:49 into the game and then cruised to a 4-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at the Sommet Center. Chris Mason was stellar in net, stopping 40 shots and limited the league's second-highest scoring team to just two power-play goals. Mar. 9 at Detroit: Red Wings 4, Predators 3 Hasek vs. Mason (Franzen GWG) Game Highlights The Predators and Red Wings combined to score seven times, none five-on-five, in a special teams slug-fest as Detroit held off Nashville's furious three-goal third period come back attempt for a 4-3 win at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday afternoon. Detroit scored a five-on-three power-play goal, two five-on-four power-play goals, and a four-on-four even strength goal, while Nashville countered with two five-on-four power-play goals and a six-on-five extra-attacker score with the goalie pulled. Mar. 15 at Detroit: Predators 3, Red Wings 1 Ellis vs. Osgood (Peverley GWG) Game Highlights Dan Ellis backstopped a huge defensive performance with 34 saves as the Predators limited the Red Wings high powered offense to one goal in Nashville's 3-1 win at Detroit on Saturday afternoon. The Predators got balanced offensive contributions with seven different players each recording a point. Mar. 20 at Sommet Center: Red Wings 6, Predators 3 Ellis/Mason vs. Hasek (Franzen GWG) Game Highlights Alexander Radulov scored a pair of goals, including a rally-starting tally 2:17 into the third period, but Johan Franzen scored the go-ahead goal at the 7:45 mark of the third period and Dominik Hasek made several key saves down the stretch as the Red Wings held off the Predators 6-3 in an intense, physical game at Sommet Center on Thursday night. Mar. 30 at Detroit: Red Wings 1, Predators 0 (OT) Hasek vs. Ellis (Franzen OT goal) Game Highlights Dan Ellis made 35 saves as the Predators earned a key point despite suffering a 1-0 overtime loss at Detroit on Sunday afternoon. Ellis posted a shutout streak of 233:39, not only a team record, but also the longest streak in the NHL this season. Goals by Period Team 1 2 3 OT Total Predators 6 4 9 0 19 Red Wings 7 9 3 1 20 Special Teams: Nashville - Power-Play: 4-45 (8.9%) Penalty Kill: 43-53 (81.1%) Detroit - Power-Play: 10-53 (18.9%) Penalty Kill: 41-45 (91.1%) Individual Leaders: Nashville Martin Erat 8 gp, 4g-4a (8 pts), +4 Alexander Radulov 8 gp, 4g-3a (7 pts), +2 J.P. Dumont 8 gp, 2g-5a (7 pts), +1 Jason Arnott 8 gp, 1g-5a (6 pts), +5 Chris Mason 5 gp, 2-2-2, 2.80 GAA, .924 SV% Dan Ellis 4 gp, 1-1-1, 1.75 GAA, .950 SV% Detroit Johan Franzen 8 gp, 6g-2a (8 pts), -1 Pavel Datsyuk 8 gp, 3g-3a (6 pts), E Jiri Hudler 8 gp, 2g-4a (6 pts), -1 Henrik Zetterberg 8 gp, 1g-4a (5 pts), -5 Dominik Hasek 4 gp, 3-1-0, 2.23 GAA, .913 SV% Chris Osgood 4 gp, 2-2-0, 2.49 GAA, .912 SV% Recent Team Info:►U.S. College Netminders Making The Grade in the NHL►NashvillePredators.com Playoff Central: Predators vs. Red Wings Series►NHL.com: Hard-charging Predators saved best for last►Nashville Predators Media & Fan Info For The Western Conference Quarterfinals►Milwaukee Admirals Update (April 8)►Preds Remain At No. 9 Following Draft Lottery►Admirals Clinch AHL Playoff Spot►Predators to Open 2008 Playoffs on Thursday in Detroit►Preds vs. Wings At A Glance►NHL.com: Finding the right mindset going into the playoffs Subscribe | More team news Statistics: 2007-2008 Regular Season SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts J. Dumont 80 29 43 5 72 J. Arnott 79 28 44 19 72 A. Radulov 81 26 32 7 58 M. Erat 76 23 34 -3 57 D. Legwand 65 15 29 -4 44 M. Zidlicky 79 5 38 -5 43 J. Hlavac 80 12 23 -1 35 V. Fiddler 79 11 21 -4 32 R. Suter 76 7 24 3 31 R. Bonk 79 14 15 -31 29 GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA D. Ellis 23 10 3 .924 2.34 C. Mason 18 22 6 .898 2.90 Full Team Stats >> Upcoming Games Thu 04/10 6:00 PM @ Sat 04/12 1:00 PM vs. Mon 04/14 6:30 PM Tickets vs. Wed 04/16 8:00 PM Tickets @ Fri 04/18 6:30 PM Complete Team Schedule >> Which has been your favorite 'moment' from the Predators late season drive? Mar. 22: 2-1 Shootout win vs. CHI Mar. 22-30: Dan Ellis shutout streak Apr. 1: 3-goal comeback in 4-3 OT-W at STL Apr. 3: 3-2 win vs. STL on Fan Appreciation Night Apr. 3: Preds clinch playoff spot with EDM win at VAN Now I went to each home game and regardless of the out come, these two teams punish each other. It should be an exciting series and can't wait till monday night for the first home game of the series. I'm not sure if any of you are hockey fans but I'm obsessed with hockey.
woo i'm not the loan hockey fan. I've only been into hockey a yr and a half. I went to a game in jan of 07 and been hooked. had season tickets this yr and will have them again next yr. I have been hockey obsessed since my first game i never thought i'd watch anything more exciting than football but i did. I'm not sure why the other guys haven't gotten into it. they really need to go to a game if they haven't been to one. I think they will like it. GO PREDS!!! can anyone tell me who the guy in the middle is?
me and coach barry trotz. it was the day of the nfc championship so I hadn't swapped to my preds gear yet lol
me and my lil bro thanksgiving day when both my cowboys and my reds won. fyi we did play the red wings that night!!
Gort I couldn't let this series end without a big salute to the Pred fans who really are great hockey fans. It's nice to see the sport embraced by folks outside the traditional hockey section of the country. It's a great sport played by true athletes who love their sport and who appreciate their fortune to be professianal athletes. Folkes in Tenn. are special, but then again, they always have been.