Football
Associated Press 17y

Kariya, Legwand give short-handed Preds an offensive boost in win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators, dealing with
the loss of four of their top offensive players, needed Paul Kariya
and David Legwand against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Both responded with a goal and an assist as the Predators
prevailed 2-1 on Saturday night.

Peter Forsberg has missed the past four games with an
"upper-body" injury. Steve Sullivan has missed eight games with
back spasms. Scott Hartnell is out with a broken foot and Scott Nichol is out with a broken thumb.

"When we needed someone to jump-start us Paul Kariya and David
Legwand stepped in scored two goals," Predators coach Barry Trotz
said. "It's important that we are able to win without those
players. You find out a lot about players who are able to dig down
and play well. I thought as I went down the lineup that everyone
contributed in some way or some form."

Columbus took a 1-0 lead when Gilbert Brule took a shot that
bounced off the pads of Nashville goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Brule
came in from the left side of the crease, diving head-first as he
popped the rebound between the post and the outstretched skate of
Vokoun at 1:17 of the first period.

The Predators' tying goal was also the result of hard work
around the net. Legwand took a shot that bounced off Columbus
goaltender Fredrik Norrena. Kariya tapped in the rebound as he
skated in close from the right side of the net at 4:25.

Legwand gave the Predators a 2-1 first-period lead, again
working close to the net. Dan Hamhuis took a shot from midway in
the slot. The rebound off Norrena's pads bounced around in front of
the net. Legwand skated across the crease, picked up the rebound
and wrapped a shot around Norrena at 13:45.

"They scored a goal on their second shift of the game, so I
thought we responded really well and played outstanding in the
first period," Trotz said.

The Predators couldn't beat Norrena again after the first
period.

"We came out a little bit flat in the second," Trotz said.
"Then we started to get it going and drew some penalties just by
starting to skate and work."

Despite the win, Trotz had one message for his team.

"We had them on the ropes and we couldn't put them away,"
Trotz said. "We had a chance to bury them a little bit and we
didn't. We couldn't get rid of them."

The Predators closed out the series with Columbus with an 8-0
record.

"It is always difficult to win eight games in a row against a
team, no matter who you are playing," Vokoun said. "I think it's
a good achievement, especially since there is so much talk about
the rivalry between us and Columbus. They always play hard against
us. We have had some close games."

Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock was frustrated by his team's lack
of scoring punch after the early goal.

"We weren't able to score and we had our people on the ice,"
Hitchcock said. "When a team beats you eight times in a row, it's
pretty telling. It doesn't matter what song you sing, it doesn't
leave much doubt when they beat you eight times in a row."

Game notes
The Predators have outscored Columbus 11-2 in the first period in eight games this season and have scored more first-period goals than any team in the NHL with 86. The Blue Jackets are 3-2-1 in their past six on the second night of back-to-back games. The Predators have not lost a game in regulation since Feb. 17, a string of 10 games (7-0-3). ...Kariya has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games.

^ Back to Top ^