Habs vs Predators: What Went Wrong?

So I won’t give a replay of everything that happened during this game. But I will say, I, along with many of Habs fans, aren’t happy. Even though the Nashville Predators won 2-1, I don’t know if they really have anything to be happy about either.

As I watched the game, I started to realize the outcome was really going to depend on the calls made by the referees. The first call of the game was a delay of game penalty for Raphael Diaz when the puck went over the glass. Can’t blame the refs there I suppose. A few minutes later the Habs were handed their third penalty (PK Subban got the second for tripping) and it was Ryan White for delay of game. Yes, the exact same thing that happened to Raphael Diaz. It was 5 on 3 for a couple of seconds and then the Predators scored their first goal.

Now, early in the second period the Habs and Preds came out a little stronger but it was enough when Daniel Briere was involved in a collision and left the game with what has been confirmed to be a concussion. This could have been avoided but looked as if both players (Briere and Nyström weren’t looking at each other) and it caused a collision that caused another Habs injury. The first of the night. The hit was not called by the refs despite calls from the crowd for an interference penalty, but instead a few seconds later Tinordi got a call for interference.

I am okay with players getting penalties they deserve but there were too many head shots (incidental and suspect) throughout this game (and every other NHL game this season) and it is not getting any of the attention it should be. If the NHL wants to fix this problem they should readdress the issues to the refs and have them keep a better eye on it or do something else to improve the play.

Brendan Gallagher scored in the second period with the assists by Michael Bournival and Lars Eller. The game was tied at 1-1 going into the third period.

In the third period Eller shot the puck and it looked like it went in, the referee said it was a good goal and the light came on…but after review it stood as no goal. So the team was back fighting to take the lead.

The Habs lost 2-1 after Jones scored a beautiful goal on Price. But the biggest loss for the team was when Brandon Prust crashed full speed into the boards and received a upper body injury that has yet to be evaluated. He was favouring his shoulder and knowing his past issues with shoulder injuries, and if it is serious this will be a bad loss for the Habs.

Now on Habs injury list: George Parros (concussion), Alexei Emelin (knee), Davis Drewiske (shoulder), Douglas Murray (upper body injury), Max Pacioretty (hamstring strain), Daniel Brière (concussion) andBrandon Prust (upper body/possibly shoulder)

It was a rough game for the Habs, but a good game for the Predators. The next game for Montreal will be on October 22nd against the Oilers and the next game for the Predators is the 20th of October against the Winnipeg Jets.

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