Predators defeat Wild 4-3

October 28, 10:35 PMNashville Predators ExaminerJim Diamond

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Jerred Smithson
AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid

The Good

A win, a power-play goal, and a shorthanded goal – all have been in short supply this season, and the Predators managed all three in their 4-3 Wednesday night victory over the Wild. Minnesota had won their first three home games this season. The Nashville victory prevented the Predators from falling into 15th and last place in the Western Conference standings.

The shorthanded goal was scored by Jerred Smithson at 10:44 of the third and proved to be the game-winner. Smithson stripped former Predator defenseman Marek Zidlicky inside the blue line and finished the scoring play with a smooth toe-drag move.

Mike Santorelli scored his first career NHL goal. After being recalled from Milwaukee on Monday, he put himself in good position near the Minnesota net, and was credited with his first NHL maker after a puck bounced off of his skate and into the Wild goal.

The Bad

After turning aside all seven Minnesota first period shots, goaltender Dan Ellis surrendered three goals on three consecutive shots against in the span of 1:47 to start the second period. Ellis was promptly lifted in favor of Pekka Rinne, who stopped the twelve shots he faced over the remainder of the game to earn the victory.

The Predators penalty kill surrendered one goal against in two times shorthanded. After J.P. Dumont was whistled for a tripping penalty at the 28-second mark of the second period, Smithson was beaten on the ensuing faceoff by Mikko Koivu. Koivu found Brent Burns, and he beat Ellis just three seconds after Dumont’s penalty started.

The Ugly

Following Owen Nolan’s second period goal to give the Wild a 3-2 lead at the time, Minnesota Wild play-by-play man Dan Terhaar quipped, “Owen Nolan, being an Irishman, can handle a hand grenade.”

A Zidlicky pass set up Nolan’s goal. Terhaar said that Zidlicky’s pass was kind of like a hand grenade because it was somewhat airborne. Nolan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Apparently decades of a violent religious civil war that has seen thousands of lives lost is fodder for hilarity in the State of Hockey.

Wild color commentator Mike Greenlay quickly responded to Terhaar’s statement by saying, “That’s going to get you some e-mail.”

Let’s see if the Wild organization takes appropriate action and suspends Mr. Terhaar for his ridiculously inappropriate attempt at humor.