Rookie Tournament Game 2: Baby Predators 5, Baby Panthers 2
After a come from behind shootout win yesterday, the Cats' rookie team had a tough time getting going, and fell in disappointing fashion to the Predators.
The Florida Panthers rookie team took part in the second game of their weekend today, and had a much tougher experience than they did in their first game.
Colin Stevens was in net for Florida, while Jusse Saros was in goal for Nashville.
Colin Stevens is in goal for FLA. He had a great year in Union, looked great in camp, could challenge for playing time in the AHL.
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Both Stevens and Saros played well throughout the first period, with both teams getting plenty of chances, and the goaltenders making plenty of saves.
Nashville is getting lots of shots from the points. Stevens is fighting them off, needs help from his team though.
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Yakov Trenin (NSH) using his speed and skill to get a shot off. Colin Stevens with the save. pic.twitter.com/9tb78NpQOh
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Lawson Crouse makes a power move to the net, Jusse Saros with the save #FlaPanthers #EsteroTourney pic.twitter.com/zrgYXRatDs
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Takeaways from period one: Panthers still have a great forecheck, probably the better team at 5 on 5, power play is terrible, PK is weak.
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 The second period was more eventful, but not in a good way. The Predators put three pucks behind Stevens and were by far the better team in the middle frame.
No one picks up the man in the slot, and the Predators take a one goal lead. #FlaPanthers #EsteroTourney pic.twitter.com/pBBRnfYSyS
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Here's the bomb from Noonan that beat Stevens and made it 2-0 pic.twitter.com/RA3Qpbrixo
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Great passing here from NSH - Trevor Murphy drops it to Kamenev, who gets it to Arvidsson, who buries it. 3-0 Preds. pic.twitter.com/N2ZZzwJA4l
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 The Cats didn't have many offensive chances, and the few that they did manage to create were either stuffed by Saros or off target.
Great play by Hawryluk to spring Brickley for the breakaway. Jusse Saros makes the save again. pic.twitter.com/1KmKfPKk4q
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Arguably the best chance of the game for the Cats, and Lukas Sutter shoots it wide. Had Hawryluk open... pic.twitter.com/8oagK1lmaL
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 Overall, Nashville was just a much better team in the second period.
This group of defenders for Nashville is very good at dealing with forecheckers and pushing the puck out of the zone. Calm under pressure.
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 That was the definition of a disappointing period. Outshot, outscored, and out-played. Cats need to figure a way to get past NSH's defense.
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 The Panthers looked better in the third period, but couldn't mount a comeback and fell by a final score of 5-2.
Panthers score! 3-1 come back cats time? #RookieTourney pic.twitter.com/pjCoNLd98g
— Pucking Panthers (@PuckingPanthers) September 13, 2015 #FlaPanthers getting into penalty trouble. Preds going on a 5 on 3. 3-1 Preds. 13:07 left in the third. #RookieTourney
— Pucking Panthers (@PuckingPanthers) September 13, 2015 Preds score on the 5 on 3. 4-1 now. 12:10 left in the third. #RookieTourney
— Pucking Panthers (@PuckingPanthers) September 13, 2015 Predators score and its 5-1. Still have another 1:43 on the power play. #RookieTourney
— Pucking Panthers (@PuckingPanthers) September 13, 2015 Matheson scores on the 5 on 3 power play! 5-2 Preds with 5:47 left #RookieTourney pic.twitter.com/xPnbDl0UI8
— Pucking Panthers (@PuckingPanthers) September 13, 2015 Odds and ends
- Connor Brickley got his second goal of the tournament and defenseman Mike Matheson netted his first. MacKenzie Weegar picked up two assists, while Kyle Rau and Rocco Grimaldi were each credited with one assist.
- This game wasn't too violent, but there was a fight. Our guy didn't fare so well.
R.J Boyd just got pounded by Aaron Irving. pic.twitter.com/PgvNRHFkvE
— Shane O'Donnell (@shane1342o) September 13, 2015 - The team's power play still looks pretty bad. They were given another six opportunities in this game, so overall, they've only managed to go 1-for-10 with the man advantage, and the only goal came during a 5-on-3.
- Mike Matheson is flashing some really high-end potential in this tournament. Solid defensively all game, picked up a goal on the power play, and looked like someone who can step into the NHL very soon. I don't think he makes the jump this year, but if he proves himself in the AHL, look for him to arrive on the blue line in 2016-2017. /
I'll be live-tweeting the action again, so if you can't make it to the game, be sure to follow @shane1342o on Twitter to catch all of the highlights.
(Thanks to the Pucking Panthers podcast for video-taping some of the action after the live-stream provided by the Lightning went down. Wouldn't have been able to follow along without them.)
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