NASHVILLE – Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk disagreed with Predators center Ryan Johansen's shootout goal against backup Alex Stalock on Sunday, a backhander that rolled in while Johansen's stick caught a piece of Stalock's pad to deal Nashville a 3-2 win at Xcel Energy Center.
And Dubnyk also had an issue with Johansen's move Tuesday when he was between the pipes, and Johansen scored another fourth-round clincher in a 5-4 decision in front of 17,668 at Bridgestone Arena that sealed a home-and-home sweep for the Predators over the Wild.
"I don't mind shootouts," Dubnyk said, "but if you want some example of why maybe not, there's one. That's two games in a row. It's a mockery. We're trying to make the playoffs."
With both teams scoreless through three rounds, Johansen slowed down as he approached the net before deking and eventually lifting the puck over an outstretched Dubnyk. Winger Ryan Donato missed the Wild's next try, after Kevin Fiala, Pontus Aberg and Zach Parise had already blanked, so Johansen's tally emerged as the winner.
"To me, he's completely stopped," Dubnyk said. "It's frustrating. That's two games in a row. He shoves Al's pad in the net. If he's not stopped, he's not stopped. But I don't understand how you come in and stop at the top of the crease and stand there and stickhandle and wait."
Coach Bruce Boudreau interpreted the déjà vu moment differently, believing Johansen kept moving.
"I didn't think he stopped the forward motion," he said. "So to me it was a good goal."
Although missing out on a second point stung, the Wild extended its point streak to a season-high seven games (5-0-2) and remained in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 72 points after a late goal in the third period pushed the action to extra time.