Sullivan, Walker end playoff scoring drought
NASHVILLE (AP) — Steve Sullivan had been frustrated in the first three games of the Nashville Predators’ series with the Detroit Red Wings.
But he scored the game-winning goal at 10:44 of the first period to lead Nashville to a 3-0 victory Tuesday night, tying the best-of-seven series 2-2.
“It’s been a difficult three games, (I’ve had) a lot of scoring chances and the puck wasn’t going in, so to finally put one in makes the stick feel a little lighter,” Sullivan said.
His teammates had filled in for Sullivan, but the pressure was building on the forward after taking nine shots in the first three games.
Sullivan was the team’s spark plug down the stretch after being acquired Feb. 16 from the Chicago Blackhawks. He became just the second player in NHL history with 10 points in three games with a new team following his Feb. 16 trade to Nashville.
The other player to accomplish the feat? Wayne Gretzky after joining Los Angeles in 1988.
“We’re just excited to be here and excited to be playing another game,” Sullivan said.
Scott Walker also had an assist, the first postseason point of his career, after passing the puck on Sullivan’s breakaway.
Walker also had a breakout season, scoring 25 goals and adding 42 assists to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
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LEGACE’S LEGACY: The Predators have figured out Red Wings goalie Manny Legace.
Legace was pulled at 2:04 of the third period after giving up three goals on 10 shots. The goalie held Nashville to just five goals in the first three games.
“We’ve learned from the mistakes we’ve made, and we’ve been more opportunistic,” Nashville captain Greg Johnson said. “It was only 3-0 … I wouldn’t look at it as we knocked him out.”
In the regular season, Legace played against Predators only once, winning 4-1 in Nashville on Feb. 3.
But the goalie who was the third-stringer earlier this season made several brilliant saves, including a sprawling catch in the second period on a power-play shot by Scott Walker.
Detroit coach Dave Lewis said he pulled Legace for Curtis Joseph because he wanted to “change the flavor.”
The Predators played Detroit with Joseph in net five times in the regular season, winning three games against him.
“We prepared for both goaltenders,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. “Lewis has a decision (to make) now.”
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DOUBTING THOMAS:@ Detroit coach Dave Lewis said it was the toughest decision yet.
Lewis scratched 19-year veteran Steve Thomas, who has said this will be his final season after he fell one game short of his first Stanley Cup last season when Anaheim lost to New Jersey in seven games.
Thomas had 10 goals and 12 assists in the regular season, but had only one assist in the first three games of this series and Lewis felt Boyd Devereaux would give the Red Wings more speed.
After the game, Lewis was pleased with his decision.
“Boyd had a strong game, I’m going to view the tape and make a decision (on who will play) based on what we feel and what we see,” Lewis said.
Devereaux finished with 11 shifts and 6:13 of ice time, taking two shots and winning his only faceoff.
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ICE CHIPS:@ The Predators had invited fans who couldn’t get a ticket to the sold out game to sit outside and watch the game on a large screen, but mixed snow and temperatures in the 30s put a damper on those plans. … Nashville defenseman Brad Bombadir may have made his best play since being acquired just before the deadline from Minnesota when he stopped an odd man rush in the second period by sprawling to block the shot, and then clearing the zone while flat on his stomach. … Detroit center Kris Draper was cut on the cheek by Scott Walker’s stick during a shot in the second period, but failed to draw a high sticking call. Detroit coach Dave Lewis said he wouldn’t evaluate the officiating, but that the referees missed the call. “I know they missed a high stick on Kris Draper, we could’ve had a 4-minute power play and it didn’t happen.”
… Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who helped get the Gaylord Entertainment Center built while he was mayor of Nashville, was in attendance with his wife for the second straight game. Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher and retired Titans tight end Frank Wycheck also were in the crowd.
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QUOTABLE:@ “It doesn’t matter if they have 10 breakaways and we have zilch in three games, we still have got to win the hockey game and still got to make the saves. I haven’t been doing it.” — Detroit goalie Manny Legace on his performance after giving up three goals on 10 shots.