Game 4 - 2nd Period
Friday, 05.04.2012 / 8:13 PM
By Jay Levin - Nashville Predators / 2012 Playoff Blog -- Conference Semifinals vs. Phoenix
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THREE MUSINGS:
Hornqvist -- Patric Hornqvist was front-and-center in several of the Preds top scoring chances in the period, actually starting with the final shift of the first period when time expired with Hornqvist and Bourque trying to whack away at a loose puck in the crease. Hornqvist rang a shot off the post 5:31 on a rush in transition 5:31 into the period, snapped a shot over the crossbar on Smith's giveaway a few seconds later, and just missed on a redirect of a backdoor feed with 7:24 remaining in the period. He was dangerous as a passer as well, helping relay along a handful of entry plays from the far wall along the blueline heading into the offensive zone. Hornqvist should have drawn a penalty on Martin Hanzal with 1:18 left in the period; Hornqvist made a good strong move without the puck cutting through the neutral zone and Hanzal stuck his stick into Hornqvist's waist to hook him back into contact and prevent Hornqvist from creating separation in transition, but the infraction went undetected.
Missed Opportunities -- The Preds skated much better in the second period, holding the Puck in the Phoenix zone for the first 1:50 of the frame consecutively, but were unable to net the equalizer. Hornqvist hit the post on a transition rush around five-and-a-half minutes into the period and a few seconds after that Phoenix netminder Mike Smith handed the puck over at the top of the crease, but the Preds misfired on the open upper half of the net. Infact, the Preds missed high on around a half dozen great looks off other passing sequences in the period. Spaling and Wilson were victimized on a potential two-on-one opportunity midway through the frame, when the puck hopped over Wilson's stick drawing the play offside.
Much Better 2nd Period -- As a team, Nashville did a much better job of the "details" in the second period, winning the majority of one-on-one puck battles. Although shots on goal were even in the period, 10-10, the Preds held a 24-21 edge in attempted shots and created almost all of the quality scoring chances in the frame.
Hornqvist -- Patric Hornqvist was front-and-center in several of the Preds top scoring chances in the period, actually starting with the final shift of the first period when time expired with Hornqvist and Bourque trying to whack away at a loose puck in the crease. Hornqvist rang a shot off the post 5:31 on a rush in transition 5:31 into the period, snapped a shot over the crossbar on Smith's giveaway a few seconds later, and just missed on a redirect of a backdoor feed with 7:24 remaining in the period. He was dangerous as a passer as well, helping relay along a handful of entry plays from the far wall along the blueline heading into the offensive zone. Hornqvist should have drawn a penalty on Martin Hanzal with 1:18 left in the period; Hornqvist made a good strong move without the puck cutting through the neutral zone and Hanzal stuck his stick into Hornqvist's waist to hook him back into contact and prevent Hornqvist from creating separation in transition, but the infraction went undetected.
Missed Opportunities -- The Preds skated much better in the second period, holding the Puck in the Phoenix zone for the first 1:50 of the frame consecutively, but were unable to net the equalizer. Hornqvist hit the post on a transition rush around five-and-a-half minutes into the period and a few seconds after that Phoenix netminder Mike Smith handed the puck over at the top of the crease, but the Preds misfired on the open upper half of the net. Infact, the Preds missed high on around a half dozen great looks off other passing sequences in the period. Spaling and Wilson were victimized on a potential two-on-one opportunity midway through the frame, when the puck hopped over Wilson's stick drawing the play offside.
Much Better 2nd Period -- As a team, Nashville did a much better job of the "details" in the second period, winning the majority of one-on-one puck battles. Although shots on goal were even in the period, 10-10, the Preds held a 24-21 edge in attempted shots and created almost all of the quality scoring chances in the frame.
