Power Play: Preds finish season with 4-3 loss to Hawks in Game 6
In a game they needed to win and force a Game 7, the Nashville Predators (2-4) fell just one goal short. Collecting a goal off of Duncan Keith's point-shot nearing the end of the third period, the Chicago Blackhawks (4-2) ended Nashville's playoff run and punched their ticket into the second round.
This series has definitely lived up to its expectations
Game six started out hot and heavy for both squads. Nashville went ahead early with a James Neal goal only 70 seconds into the first period. He scored again seven minutes later. Then, after a span of just over four minutes, the Predators led 3-2.
Five goals between both teams in just 12 minutes of hockey played.
With six seconds left, the always deadly Patrick Kane tied the game at three goals apiece.
Six goals in the first period doesn't necessarily come as a surprise but more of an exclamation point on how fantastic this series has been -- quite possibly the best series in the first round throughout the NHL.
With both Neal and Kane playing the type of hockey that was expected of them coming into this series -- even with Kane coming off his injury -- it also exemplifies that both teams are capable of scoring goals when they want to.
The problem on both sides is defense. Chicago's defense was a bit porous in Game 2 and Game 5 and started on the same way on Saturday. Nashville has had trouble closing out games after taking two or three goal leads, some of that partially could be on Pekka Rinne and his inconsistencies.
It's very cliché, but the team that figures out a way to score and stop their opponent first will take the series. And the Blackhawks did just that.
Second period still hampers the Predators
The second period was a problem that Nashville never seemed to be able to tackle during the regular season. It only magnified in the playoffs against Chicago.
They were lit up in the middle frame by the Blackhawks in Game 1 but kept it close for the remainder of the series. Yet, the fact still remains that Nashville has easily been outplayed by Chicago.
Have the Blackhawks just sent too much pressure at Nashville to where it couldn't seem to adjust properly?
One huge thing to consider is that, even though the pressure was seemingly insurmountable against the Predators, they continued to keep it tight. Especially Saturday. Dropping two consecutive two-goal leads against a team with a chance to send you packing for the season, you'd expect a bit of a dropoff in the next twenty minutes.
Nashville kept things tied going into the third period after the Blackhawks attempted 21 shots to the net compared to 10 for the Predators.
Great season, but all that's left are the "what if's"...
As Nashville closed out their 2014-15 season with the 4-3 loss in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Predators were left with more questions than answers to a season that started off so strongly yet ended too early.
It's still a shock to remind many that Nashville was atop the league standings by six points in early February just to slip all the way down to second in the division for a fateful matchup against Chicago in the first round.
So what happened?
Nashville lost 15 of its final 21 games down the stretch, mostly because the primary scoring disappeared and defense became optional.
With failing defensive coverage came a more exposed Rinne, who saw his save percentage drop from a lofty 93.02 percent through February 24th all the way down to 90.08 percent by the end of the season.
Granted, nobody expected Rinne to maintain his high level of play over the course of 82 games, but his drop-off nullified any chance Nashville had to come away with a Central Division title or Presidents Trophy.
Not all of it's on Rinne, either. The Predators lost all four of their games against Chicago by a combined five goals -- three of those coming via screened point shots. One each in double and triple overtime with the final coming late in the third period of Game 6.
Lump that in with the loss of both Shea Weber and Mike Fisher at different times in the series and you have a Nashville team that was trying to adjust early to its own lineup changes rather than focusing on adjustments and matchups against a powerful Blackhawks roster.
Nashville did what they could and kept every single game close in this series, improving significantly each game, but in the end it proved to be futile against a Chicago lineup that could potentially bring home its third cup in six years.
Duncan Keith -- What can you say about Keith besides how important he was to the Blackhawks in this series. His game-winners in both Game 1 and Game 6 propelled Chicago into the second round.
James Neal -- Neal turned it on just as the Predators needed him to. His two goals in the first period put Nashville on top prior to Chicago tying it late in the period.
Pekka Rinne -- He gave Nashville a shot to win the game and bring the series back to Bridgestone Arena for a Game 7, it just wasn't meant to be. Four goals allowed on 32 shots isn't what to take away from this game, but the way he finished the season after he fell apart in the second half.
