GAME THREAD: NHL: NASHVILLE (14-16) at MINNESOTA (18-14)

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 1 17:09 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 1
3RD PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 13 (PAVOL DEMITRA, BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC)
0:41</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 1 13:40 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 2
3RD PRD: MIN - ERIC BELANGER 8 (PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, BRENT BURNS)
6:54</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 2 11:50 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 2 10:02 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 2 7:03 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 3
3RD PRD: MIN - BRIAN ROLSTON 12 (ERIC BELANGER, BRENT BURNS) 18:52</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 3 0:54 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NASHVILLE 1 1 0 2
MINNESOTA 0 0 3 3 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NAS - JASON ARNOTT 9 (RYAN SUTER) 8:49
2ND PRD: NAS - (PP) JEAN-PIERRE DUMONT 8 (MARTIN ERAT, JASON ARNOTT)
11:25
3RD PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 13 (PAVOL DEMITRA, BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC)
0:41
MIN - ERIC BELANGER 8 (PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD, BRENT BURNS)
6:54
MIN - BRIAN ROLSTON 12 (ERIC BELANGER, BRENT BURNS) 18:52

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: NAS - 1 OF 5, MIN - 0 OF 6.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NAS 8 8 16 32
MIN 10 10 11 31

GOALIES: NAS - DAN ELLIS
MIN - JOSH HARDING

OFFICIALS: REF - GORD DWYER, ROB MARTELL
LIN - DON HENDERSON, MARK WHEELER

ATT: 18,568</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Nashville 1 1 0 --2
Minnesota 0 0 3 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Nashville, Jason Arnott 9 (Ryan Suter),
8:49. Penalties: S Hill, Min (hooking), 9:37; D Hamhuis, Nas
(hooking), 13:40; D Moore, Min (high sticking), 16:42.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Nashville, Jean-Pierre Dumont 8 (power
play) (Martin Erat, Jason Arnott), 11:25. Penalties: V Fiddler, Nas
(tripping), 7:15; M Foy, Min (hooking), 10:49; R Bonk, Nas (cross
checking), 18:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 13 (Pavol
Demitra, Branko Radivojevic), 0:41. 4, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 8
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns), 6:54. 5, Minnesota, Brian Rolston
12 (Eric Belanger, Brent Burns), 18:52. Penalties: J Smithson, Nas
(tripping), 0:41; M Foy, Min (hooking), 7:12; R Suter, Nas (tripping),
8:00; N Schultz, Min (interference), 9:08.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Nashville 8 8 16 --32
Minnesota 10 10 11 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Nashville - 1 of 5, Minnesota - 0 of 6.
Goalies : Nashville, Dan Ellis (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 6-3-0).
Minnesota, Josh Harding (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 6-6-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Gord Dwyer, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Don Henderson,
Mark Wheeler.</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
NASHVILLE 2
MINNESOTA 3</div>

 

By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - Brian Rolston will likelyremember his 600th career point for a long time.


Eric Belanger scored the tying goal and helped set up Rolston'sgame-winner as the Minnesota Wild rallied for three third-periodgoals to post a 3-2 comeback victory over the NashvillePredators on Tuesday night.


Pierre-Marc Bouchard and defenseman Brent Burns each had twoassists for the Wild, who have won three consecutive games andfour of their last five contests.


With the score knotted at 2-2, Belanger deflected Burns' shotfrom the left point on goal. Goaltender Dan Ellis stopped thatattempt, but Rolston was right there to stuff in the reboundwith just 68 seconds remaining in the contest.


It was Rolston's 600th career point. He has 12 goals and 13assists this season.


After forcing a turnover in Minnesota's defensive end, Bouchardmade an outlet pass to Belanger for a 2-on-1 with Rolston.Defenseman Marek Zidlicky did not commit either way and Belangerblasted a shot which beat Ellis stick side at 6:34 of the thirdperiod to tie the game at 2-2.


Marian Gaborik started the comeback just 41 seconds into thefinal session when he buried a wide-open opportunity in front ofNashville's net. Bouchard fired a cross-ice pass from the blueline to Pavol Demitra, who along with Gaborik had no defendersbetween them and Ellis.


Demitra faked a shot to make Ellis commit, then slid the puck toGaborik for an easy goal - extending his goal streak to threegames and his point streak to five.


Ellis stopped 28 shots, but has now lost three consecutivestarts.


Minnesota also had a backup goalie in net, as Josh Hardingstarted his third consecutive contest with Niklas Backstromstill recovering from the flu. Harding won back-to-back startson the road over the weekend and made 30 saves in this one -including 16 in the third period.


Jason Arnott opened the scoring at the 8:49 mark in the firstperiod. Harding made the initial save but couldn't smother therebound, leaving Martin Skoula to clear the puck.


Arnott, however, kept the puck in the offensive zone and firedan uncontested shot from behind the circle to Harding's gloveside. With Martin Erat providing a screen, Arnott's shot hitoff Backstrom's stick and bounced into the net.


Arnott, who had not scored since November 22 and had just onepoint in his last seven games, then provided the assist on J.P.Dumont's tally.


The Predators' center sent a pass to Erat along the boards andthe Czech fired a shot toward the net. Harding made the savewith his pad, but Dumont took the rebound and his attemptdeflected of the skate of defenseman Kim Johnsson and slippedbetween Harding's pads with 8:35 left in the middle session.

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Nashville 1 1 0 --2
Minnesota 0 0 3 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Nashville, Jason Arnott 9 (Ryan Suter),
8:49. Penalties: S Hill, Min (hooking), 9:37; D Hamhuis, Nas
(hooking), 13:40; D Moore, Min (high sticking), 16:42.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Nashville, Jean-Pierre Dumont 8 (power
play) (Martin Erat, Jason Arnott), 11:25. Penalties: V Fiddler, Nas
(tripping), 7:15; M Foy, Min (hooking), 10:49; R Bonk, Nas (cross
checking), 18:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 13 (Pavol
Demitra, Branko Radivojevic), 0:41. 4, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 8
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns), 6:54. 5, Minnesota, Brian Rolston
12 (Eric Belanger, Brent Burns), 18:52. Penalties: J Smithson, Nas
(tripping), 0:41; M Foy, Min (hooking), 7:12; R Suter, Nas (tripping),
8:00; N Schultz, Min (interference), 9:08; S Weber, Nas (hooking),
19:51.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Nashville 8 8 16 --32
Minnesota 10 10 11 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Nashville - 1 of 5, Minnesota - 0 of 5.
Goalies : Nashville, Dan Ellis (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 6-3-0).
Minnesota, Josh Harding (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 6-6-1). A:
18,568. Referees: Gord Dwyer, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Don Henderson,
Mark Wheeler.</div>

 

NHL: NASHVILLE at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
NASHVILLE 1 1 0 --2
MINNESOTA 0 0 3 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Nashville, Jason Arnott 9 (Ryan Suter),
8:49. Penalties: S Hill, Min (hooking), 9:37; D Hamhuis, Nas
(hooking), 13:40; D Moore, Min (high sticking), 16:42.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Nashville, Jean-Pierre Dumont 8 (power
play) (Martin Erat, Jason Arnott), 11:25. Penalties: V Fiddler, Nas
(tripping), 7:15; M Foy, Min (hooking), 10:49; R Bonk, Nas (cross
checking), 18:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 13 (Pavol
Demitra, Branko Radivojevic), 0:41. 4, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 8
(Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns), 6:54. 5, Minnesota, Brian Rolston
12 (Eric Belanger, Brent Burns), 18:52. Penalties: J Smithson, Nas
(tripping), 0:41; M Foy, Min (hooking), 7:12; R Suter, Nas (tripping),
8:00; N Schultz, Min (interference), 9:08; S Weber, Nas (hooking),
19:51.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
NASHVILLE 8 8 16 --32
MINNESOTA 10 10 11 --31
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: NAS - 1 of 5, MIN - 0 of 5. Goalies :
Nashville, Dan Ellis (31 shots, 28 saves; record: 6-3-0). Minnesota,
Josh Harding (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 6-6-1). A: 18,568.
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Rob Martell. Linesmen: Don Henderson, Mark
Wheeler.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

NASHVILLE MINNESOTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Erat 0 1 +1 4 M Gaborik 1 0 +1 5
D Legwand 0 0 -1 4 B Rolston 1 0 +3 5
S Nichol 0 0 even 2 D Moore 0 0 -1 0
R Bonk 0 0 -1 2 S Veilleux 0 0 -1 0
J Arnott 1 1 even 3 M Parrish 0 0 even 2
D Hamhuis 0 0 -1 1 E Belanger 1 1 +2 4
R Suter 0 1 +1 2 K Carney 0 0 +1 1
J Tootoo 0 0 +1 1 P Demitra 0 1 +1 2
M Gelinas 0 0 -1 1 M Skoula 0 0 even 1
J Smithson 0 0 -1 0 A Voros 0 0 even 1
M Zidlicky 0 0 -2 0 K Johnsson 0 0 even 2
V Fiddler 0 0 -1 1 N Schultz 0 0 even 0
J Ortmeyer 0 0 -1 3 S Hill 0 0 -1 0
A Radulov 0 0 -1 2 J Sheppard 0 0 even 0
G Zanon 0 0 -3 0 B Burns 0 2 +3 4
S Weber 0 0 +1 0 M Foy 0 0 even 0
G de Vries 0 0 even 1 B Radivojevic 0 1 -1 2
J Dumont 1 0 -1 5 P Bouchard 0 1 +3 2
D Hordichuk HEALTHY T Fedoruk HEALTHY
K Klein HEALTHY D Boogaard BACK INJURY
V Koistinen HEALTHY K Foster HEALTHY</div>

 

By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - Brian Rolston will likelyremember his 600th career point for a long time.


Eric Belanger scored the tying goal and helped set up Rolston'sgame-winner as the Minnesota Wild rallied for three third-periodgoals to post a 3-2 comeback victory over the NashvillePredators on Tuesday night.


Pierre-Marc Bouchard and defenseman Brent Burns each had twoassists for the Wild, who have won three consecutive games andfour of their last five contests.


"It's good to see the character and the never-say-die attitudewe've got going right now," Minnesota captain Mark Parrish said."Going into the period down two goals and everybody waspositive in here.


"We knew we had to just keep playing the way we were and keepthrowing pucks - even throw more pucks at the net - and crash.That's what we did and we finally got a couple chances andfinished them."


With the score knotted at 2-2, Belanger deflected Burns' shotfrom the left point on goal. Goaltender Dan Ellis stopped thatattempt, but Rolston was right there to stuff in the reboundwith just 68 seconds remaining in the contest.


It was Rolston's 600th career point. He has 12 goals and 13assists this season.


"We're talking about going at the net more and getting someshots from the point at the net," Wild coach Jacques Lemairesaid. "Just put the puck at the net."


"We paid the price a little bit more around the net," Rolstonsaid. "That's what you have to do. On the last goal, it wasjust getting in front of the net and being in the right place.That's where goals are scored these days."


After forcing a turnover in Minnesota's defensive end, Bouchardmade an outlet pass to Belanger for a 2-on-1 with Rolston.Defenseman Marek Zidlicky did not commit either way and Belangerblasted a shot which beat Ellis stick side at 6:34 of the thirdperiod to tie the game at 2-2.


"Tonight, I thought our guys who weren't scoring stepped up andthe guys that had been reliable weren't reliable in keysituations," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "We're up 2-1and we go pinching, the 'D' goes and makes a poor decision in (a2-on-1 situation); you've got to play the scorer. So there wasa couple bad decisions."


Marian Gaborik started the comeback just 41 seconds into thefinal session when he buried a wide-open opportunity in front ofNashville's net. Bouchard fired a cross-ice pass from the blueline to Pavol Demitra, who along with Gaborik had no defendersbetween them and Ellis.


Demitra faked a shot to make Ellis commit, then slid the puck toGaborik for an easy goal - extending his goal streak to threegames and his point streak to five. The goal came one secondafter Radek Bonk left the penalty box from a cross-check late inthe second period, so it felt like a power-play tally forMinnesota.


"During the game we were playing OK, it's just that theintensity wasn't there to get goals," Rolston said. "As soon aswe got that power-play goal it seemed to ignite us and thecrowd got back into it and they got on their heels a littlebit."


Ellis stopped 28 shots, but has now lost three consecutivestarts.


"We made a few immature mistakes and it came back to bite us,"Ellis said. "It looks like we're going to stop this losingstreak that we've got going and we don't do the right things inthe third period, maybe take some things for granted, and itcomes back to bite us and extends our stupid losing streak."

Minnesota also had a backup goalie in net, as Josh Hardingstarted his third consecutive contest with Niklas Backstromstill recovering from the flu. Harding won back-to-back startson the road over the weekend and made 30 saves in this one -including 16 in the third period.


Jason Arnott opened the scoring at the 8:49 mark in the firstperiod. Harding made the initial save but couldn't smother therebound, leaving Martin Skoula to clear the puck.


Arnott, however, kept the puck in the offensive zone and firedan uncontested shot from behind the circle to Harding's gloveside. With Martin Erat providing a screen, Arnott's shot hitoff Backstrom's stick and bounced into the net.


Arnott, who had not scored since November 22 and had just onepoint in his last seven games, then provided the assist on J.P.Dumont's tally.


The Predators' center sent a pass to Erat along the boards andthe Czech fired a shot toward the net. Harding made the savewith his pad, but Dumont took the rebound and his attemptdeflected of the skate of defenseman Kim Johnsson and slippedbetween Harding's pads with 8:35 left in the middle session.

But Nashville's first multi-goal game in their last fourcontests was hardly a consolation for the loss.


"When you lose a game like that, it kind of takes it all away,"Arnott said. "It's nice to get a 'PP' goal, no question, and wegot a few goals on the board, but when you lose like that, itjust defeats your whole confidence level again."