commentary...

the two hockey players who will decide this series,between Nashville,and Detroit are the goaltenders,ultimately(Pekka Rinne,and Jimmy Howard)... both teams are potent on offense... Nashville slightly better on defense,and goaltending,i have to admit,but Jimmy Howard will play the best that he can play... by most of the pundits,Nashville is favored to win this series,and end the Red Wings' season,but these teams split the season series,at 3,and Pekka Rinne can be beat in goal,by moving him side to side,and faking him out of the net,at the right angles of the shots taken by the Red Wings... Jimmy Howard had a superb season going numbers-wise,until his groin gave him major pain,and trouble,and he missed games,and he is just starting to get his game,on track,but honestly,the question remains:is it just too little,too late?
the Red Wings did win 23 straight home games,but also had two six game losing streaks,this season,so they have been very streaky,and inconsistent this season,and yet,when healthy,they are very dangerous,but a big player is not healthy,for the Red Wings-Darren Helm-who is the speedburner on stretch passes into the opponent's zone,on breakaways that the Wings have not had that option,recently,which had limited the Wings' offense,but good news:there is a possibility that Helm will be back sometime in this series,if the series goes the long way(six,or seven games)...
both teams are very good at home,but both teams have won games on the opponent's ice,this season... both blue line defenses are superb,and yet,Shea Weber,for the Predators has,perhaps,the hardest shot(over 105 mph),in the NHL,and Nashville had the number one power play,in NHL,i believe,and the Red Wings are the best even strength(percentage-wise)team,in NHL,so the keys to Red Wings' glory,is not to take many penalties,move,and pound Pekka Rinne,with shots,improve their power play,and have Howard steal a game,with a superb goaltending effort,and the keys to Predators' glory,is pound Jimmy Howard,with shots,take penalties,and punish the Red Wings with that very potent power play,and have Rinne steal a game,with a superb goaltending effort...
a weird puck bounce normally decides a game,or two,in a series,like this,but the better team does win 99.9%,of the time...