The Nashville Predators’ season ended last night when Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes tipped home the game winning goal in overtime, clinching the series for the Canes with a 4-3 win in Nashville.
A series that many expected the Canes to win followed the script, though not many expected it to go six games and none expected it to require four overtime games.
But the Preds, yet again, have only themselves to blame for this series loss, and especially for the Game 6 loss.
When Ryan Johansen tipped home the Preds’ third goal of the game on the power play, Bridgestone Arena was rocking. The Preds took a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period and had themselves only 20 minutes away from forcing a Game 7.
Carolina turned on the after burners, peppering the Nashville zone with passes and shots, eventually tying the game with 6:01 left. The Preds also lost Roman Josi to an injury with around 15 minutes left in the game, which threw their defensive structure into chaos.
But even with all that, one small mistake by the Preds contributed to the loss more than any others.
Preds lost assignment on game tying goal
With the Preds nursing a 3-2 lead and the Hurricanes buzzing, the Preds’ 4th line committed two icings in a row, leaving some tired legs out on the ice. The first icing was by Ryan Ellis, the next icing was by Yakov Trenin.
But the icings aren’t the mistake that led to the game tying goal, though they may have contributed somewhat. The mistake happened on the faceoff.
The Hurricanes won the faceoff and the puck immediately comes to Jaccob Slavin, who finds Dougie Hamilton wide open on the back door of Juuse Saros.
Watching the play again, you can see Ryan Ellis follow his man Teuvo Teravainen, who peels out to the blueline. But Yakov Trenin doesn’t follow his man, Hamilton, coming down to the slot.
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It was a misread by Yakov Trenin that led to a wide open play and the game tying goal.
Here’s another look at the goal from the end zone camera. Watch Yakov Trenin leave his left wing position to follow Teravainen instead of covering his man Dougie Hamilton at the point.
SOURCE: atozsportsnashville
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