The Preds lines at the start of the game (in order of first shift)
   Legwand centering A. Kostitsyn and Radulov
   Fisher centering Erat and S. Kostistyn
   Gaustad centering Tootoo and Yip
   Spaling centering Bourque and Hornqvist

Defense pairings:
   Suter and Weber
   Bouillon and Klein
   Ellis and Josi


THREE MUSINGS:
Heating Up -- Good start by the Legwand line. Andrei Kostitsyn and Radulov created a turnover behind the net on the game’s opening shift to set –up Legwand for a point-black chance. On Nashville’s first power-play the trio combined to create the game’s opening goal with Legwand and Radulov making crafty passes to find Kostitsyn alone at the top of the crease; Kostitsyn’s chance was stopped, but Weber netted the rebound. The line created Nashville’s second power-play with a good work in transition and finished the first period with four of Nashville's nine shots on goal.

Controlling the Circle – Nashville was dominant in the faceoff circle early in the game, winning 14 of the first 23 draws in the opening period, several clean wins. Even the three lost draws were well contested. The faceoff wins were key to the special teams success In the period with the win on the second faceoff of the first power-play leading to the possession that resulted in Nashville’s goal. Paul Gaustad clean won a pair of faceoffs on the Nashville penalty kill, which allowed the Preds additional clearing opportunities.

Clearing the Zone – Nashville got into trouble on a couple of occasions after failed clearing attempts. Detroit was able to make plays high in the zone and re-establish its puck control/half-wall cycle leading to some the Wings best chances in the period. Nashville got away with it in the first period, but will need to clean things up, especially for the second period with the long line change.