Cody Glass, Tommy Novak score biggest goals of season for Nashville Predators
The Preds are still alive in their hunt for the playoffs.
Last night, the Nashville Predators, for seemingly the millionth time this year, were down to their very last breath of playoff life.
Embroiled in a "win or be eliminated from the playoffs" battle with the Calgary Flames, the Preds fought their way to a shootout, only to find themselves down a goal with one shooter remaining.
Without reliable goal scorers Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, or Roman Josi to go save the season, John Hynes had to count on two of his most recently consistent playmakers.
First up, Cody Glass, a guy who already has a career high 34 points on the season, and has been a staple of the top six since January. Glass took center ice, skated in wide on Jacob Markstrom, made one quick, effective deke, and scored on the glove side.
Shootout all tied up.
The Flames then sent out Mikael Backlund for their next shooter. Backlund, who scored a clutch game tying goal in the 3rd period for the Flames, flubbed the puck briefly, then panicked and made a weak shot on Juuse Saros, who stopped it easily.
With the shootout tied 1-1, the Preds could end it. All they needed was Tommy Novak to make it happen.
Novak skated in calmly, made a subtle knock forward deke that caught Markstrom off for a half second, and then scored on the forehand.
Game over.
Flames eliminated, Preds still alive.
If you've watched this team at all the 2nd half of this year, you know Tommy Novak and Cody Glass might be their two best offensive weapons. Novak's 41 points in 48 games and Glass's patient two way game have helped keep the Preds afloat in a tight bubble race for the playoffs. The two young forwards have helped maintain a small amount of offensive punch while the team is still missing its big guns, no small task for a team that doesn't have much offensive punch even when its big guns are playing.
But last night, in the biggest moment for the Preds this year, and with the team's playoff hopes quite literally relying on their skills with the puck, Cody Glass and Tommy Novak delivered.
Bear in mind, all of this could be moot after Tuesday night's action. If the Winnipeg Jets get even one more point in either of their final two games (at Minnesota on Tuesday; at Colorado on Thursday) then the Nashville Predators are eliminated.
That's right: the Preds must win out (2-0-0) and the Jets must lose out in regulation (0-2-0) in order for Nashville to take over the WC2 spot.
Which is a very, very tall task. I wouldn't start making deposits on those playoff tickets yet.
But last night, in the biggest moment for the Preds this year, two of the team's biggest young stars showed they are capable of making things happen when it counts.
Let's see if they get another chance this week.
— Featured image via Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports —
