Mike Dunham...Mike Dunham...Mike Dunham...Mike Dunham...you get the
idea.
So reads the story of the Nashville Predators to this point in the
season. The former New Jersey backup goaltender who apprenticed
under one of the best in the league (Martin Brodeur) has stepped up
in his new role, leaving no doubts as to whether he can handle the
pressures of a full-time job. In actuality, Dunham has stepped out
of the shadow of the Devil into a new kind of hell...a defense
which gives up 30-plus shots a night.
Nashville is a far cry from the swamps of Jersey, where goalies are
only challenged by those blessed souls who somehow emerge from the
muck and sludge found in the Continental Airlines Arena neutral
zone. Down south, things are much more hospitable and friendly for
opposing offenses. No big hulking defensemen impede any movement
toward the net, no pesky forwards assaulting you on the
backcheck...basically all you have is a goalie who earns his living
two or three times a night.
Since the opening night loss to Florida, things have not gone too
well for Dunham and the Preds. The excitement of the first win in
franchise history against the Carolina Hurricanes was primarily due
to the exceptional play of Music City's newest hometown hero.
Facing 36 shots, Dunham turned 34 away and made a three-goal lead
hold up, outplaying Trevor Kidd for the win.
For all you trivia buffs out there, the first goal in Nashville
Predator history was scored by Andrew Brunette, with helpers going
to Joel Bouchard and Greg Johnson. Somewhat disappointing, it was
not a "beautiful tic- tac-toe one-timer knocking the water bottle
off the top of the net" kind of shot. Instead, it was a "I think
that went in why don't we go upstairs to look at the video to see
if Hurricanes defenseman David Karpa lifted the net as the puck
went through" kind of goal. It was truly a goal, and it was truly
a great night for the franchise.
Having pulled to .500 on the year, Nashville pulled out of Tennessee
on their first road trip of the year. With visits to Ottawa,
Toronto, and Detroit, the Predators had a fairly tall order if they
wanted to come home with more than the two points earned against
Carolina.
Ottawa, sporting a 2-0 record, was playing their home opener and
were flying high. Fortunately for Nashville, the second star of
the game was guess who, making 31 saves in the 3-1 loss, but giving
them a chance to win going into the third period. The Predators
gave up their first shorthanded goal of the season, the game-winner
by Magnus Arvedson, and an insurance goal put them away. Jeff
Nelson scored his second goal in four years to provide the only
goal for Nashville, but a theme was starting to emerge. Your
keeper can only forgive mistakes and penalties so many times.
The same was true two nights later in Toronto. Brunette and early
season scoring leader Sergei Krivokrasov assisted on each other's
goals to stake the Predators to a lead, but Fredrik Modin's goal,
on a "beautiful but he didn't really mean to do that" feed from
Steve Sullivan, tied the game in the second period. Dunham was able
to turn back the Leafs for the remainder of regulation and the
OT...thus ended the first tie in Predators history.
Besides Dunham's stellar play the line of the Krivokrasov, Brunette
and Johnson has been the other bright spot for Nashville. The
three have started to show signs of a solid scoring line: a great
mix of Krivokrasov's speed, Brunette's size and strength, and
Johnson's smarts.
The final game of the road trip was a visit to Hockeytown. The
defending Stanley Cup champs were waiting for the new guys, and the
ultimate test was about to begin. Things were not good for the
Predators, as they spent much of the first two periods running
around like squirt league players matched up against the local high
school varsity squad. The Red Wings must have felt like the
usually friendly octopus was wearing the visiting blue that night,
as Nashville's defense clutched and grabbed its way to the penalty
box nine times.
Thanks to No. 1, the game was actually tied 1-1 with 19:00 left in
the final frame. Dunham had allowed a rebound goal by Darren
McCarty in the first period, but didn't allow even one of the 27
shots thrown at him in the second get through, and his 52 saves on
the night were the most in his career (and franchise history for
that matter). After Greg Johnson scored early in the third to tie
Detroit, the best team in hockey woke up and their wheels started
turning. McCarty traded goals with Krivokrasov and the Wings took
off, having had just about enough of this little game. Putting
away the Nashville squad with a 5-2 score was much too close to
accurately represent the abuse dished out, the Red Wings showed the
versatility and skill for which they are known.
As Mike Dunham carried the team, and the team bus, back to
Nashville, it was becoming apparent the Predators had developed a
style. Take penalties, get some timely scoring, give Mr. Dunham
lots of practice, and get to the third period with a chance to
win. Of course, they needed to switch the last part of the plan,
the part where they lose, but it had become a consistent battle
plan.
On Friday night, the Predators faced off at home against the pesky
Calgary Flames. In a fight-filled first period, Krivokrasov scored
his third goal of the year, coming on a 5-3 advantage. It was the
first of three such advantages, which the Predators could have used
to put Calgary away, especially the one with 2:31 left in the game,
down a goal. But due to injury, the quarterback of the power play,
Jamie Heward, was scratched, leaving a huge gap in the offense.
Dunham must have felt lonely, facing only 24 shots, but must also
have been a little tired, giving up four goals in the loss. For
his part, he deserved a rest. He would get one the next night.
Eric Fichaud, the young tender picked up from Edmonton just before
the season began, would get the starts against the newly reborn
Chicago Blackhawks. Through 55 minutes, the Predators looked like
a team on a mission, driving Jeff Hackett from the net after one
period and taking a two-goal lead into the stretch.
Unfortunately, the Predators did not pay too much attention during
the stretch. Tony Amonte scored two goals and Chad Kilger added a
third in the span of 4:50 as the Hawks came battling back to ruin
what looked like the Predators first Central Division win. On a
positive note, Sergei Krivokrasov scored his fourth goal in as many
games as the offense started to pick up. He looks to continue his
tear on Tuesday against Mark Messier and the Vancouver Canucks.
Notes: Denny Lambert was suspended four games and fined $1000
for a slashing incident against Detroit . . . it was all Kirk
Maltby's fault . . . . Patrick Cote is turning into the Pred's
enforcer, taking on Bob Probert on Saturday night . . . .the
Calgary game was the first meaningful public performance of O'
Canada in Nashville since the founding of Nashville.
