Nashville Remembers Victims of Fatal School Shooting
Ryan McDonagh, a defenseman for the Nashville Predators, missed their game against the Boston Bruins on May 11, 2022. He stayed home to be with his three young daughters after a fatal shooting rocked Nashville, Tennessee. The tragedy at The Covenant School left three 9-year-old students and three adult staffers dead.
Both teams wore helmet stickers to remember the victims during their game in Boston. The Bruins also held a moment of silence before the match.
McDonagh Helps Predators Beat Bruins
McDonagh caught a commercial flight to join his team in Boston for their match-up against the Bruins. And it seemed that his absence did not deter him from helping the Predators beat the Bruins 2-1.
The defenseman even had an assist in the game-winning goal of Eeli Tolvanen during the third period. McDonagh himself talked about how the tragedy hit differently as a parent with young children.
Predators Coach Emphasizes Inspiration and Relief
Predators Coach John Hynes gave his team some words of encouragement before their game against the Bruins. He talked about the situation in Nashville and how important it was to bring inspiration to the city through their game.
Hynes emphasized that sports can provide a few hours of relief for people during tough times. Both teams showed solidarity against gun violence and support for The Covenant School.
Predators’ Playoff Hopes Depend on Goaltender Juuse Saros
The eighth seed in the Western Conference is highly contested this season, and any team that makes it has a chance to make it to the final. The Nashville Predators have faced significant injuries to key players throughout the season, including Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Matt Duchene.
Despite missing these essential players, the Predators earned a hard-fought win against the Boston Bruins. The result was significant as the Bruins were set to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy with a victory.
The Predators’ goaltender, Juuse Saros, has been a constant presence on the ice this season. He has been one of the league’s steadiest goalies over the last three years. Saros’s save percentage has never dropped below .914 in any of his seven seasons in Nashville.
Saros’s small size requires him to have excellent positioning and body movement to shut down scoring opportunities. The Predators have a low-scoring offense but have shown they can win games by playing calm and trusting Saros’s abilities in net.
Boston Bruins Struggling with Power Play
The Boston Bruins lost 2-1 to the Predators with David Pastrnak scoring within the final seconds of the game. But it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The loss came after almost two months of struggling with their power play.
Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron, Alternate Captain Brad Marchand, and Coach Jim Montgomery all agreed that the team did not play up to their standard during their match against Nashville. The team’s schedule was tough, with 12 games in 19 days, causing fatigue and energy level fluctuations.
Montgomery says that changing up power play strategy and personnel isn’t always the best solution. Instead, players need to commit to doing the right thing and play at the level of expectation. Bergeron comments that simplifying play and working for loose pucks could help increase chances of capitalizing on opportunities.
Despite the loss, the Bruins will have another chance to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy and secure their record 58th win of the season in their next game against Columbus at TD Garden.
In conclusion, Ryan McDonagh stayed with his family after a fatal shooting rocked Nashville, Tennessee. He caught a flight to Boston and helped the Predators beat the Bruins 2-1. The game was called in solidarity against gun violence and support for The Covenant School. The Boston Bruins continue to struggle with their power play as they move closer to the playoffs.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
