Predators sink their teeth into playoff berth

[Slava]

The Nashville Predators qualified for the playoffs today with a big 5-3 win over the Coyotes. They are set to play the Minnesota Wild in the first round and it will be an interesting clash. Rather than get into the match-up though, lets look back on the season a little.

Firstly, the Predators were not good. They struggled out of the gate and questioned swirled. Would the GM survive the season? Maybe a coaching change was in order? Maybe they should tank and...oh wait they traded their first round pick last year. Yikes. Maybe they could get that back?

"That pick is likely Auston Matthews" came the reply.

"I think we can go on a run and get into the playoffs though"

"LOL. Good luck with that!"

Then came US Thanksgiving and Nashville was out of the playoff picture. More bad news. But in the Preds dressing room something different was happening. The players just started to believe. The GM made it clear that they weren't going to tank, and instead of sending players out the door for picks and prospects he began to add players in deals. In late November the Preds GM unloaded Marc-Andre Fleury for Jonathan Bernier, Jonas Brodin and Josh Ho-Sang in a deal that might have been the TSN turning point for Nashville. It strengthened the blue-line and gave the Predators a solid 1a/1b goaltending tandem that seemed to work very well.

Shortly after Christmas, it started to pay off. They came off the Christmas break and went 7-2-1 to kick-off their playoff push. They were winning in OT and shootouts quite regularly and giving up that extra point, but it didn't matter. Nashville found their groove and won more than they lost.

Just before the deadline the GM added top line center Paul Stastny for Teemu Pulkinnen. The move paid off as Stastny sent the Predators to the post-season with a great performance against the Coyotes in a sort of win and you're in match-up.

Overall, it's been a tumultuous season for the Predators, but they persevered. Now they'll wrap up the regular season with a game against the Stars and then focus on at least 4 games with the conference leading Wild.

[JonDuke]

*Clarification needed to show that, although I still thought your pick had a good chance to have a shot at Matthews, I wasn't responsible for the "LOL, Good luck with that"

I'm cruel and stingy with my inheritance, but not heartless.

[simmer2]

Great work Slava.

Too many GM's will choose the rebuilding route too quickly...and coming from experience it is a long and painful process.

So good work on the moves you made and best of luck in the off-season!

[Knut]

Glad Stastny could help you out.

[JiriHrdina]

I'm gonna sweep you in 3

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Glad to see you make the playoffs. I always like seeing teams beat the odds and make the playoffs when their 1st rd pick is held in captivity. Unfortunately you will be up against a tough Wild team. This is probably the best Wild team I have seen in 6-7 years, he got rid of the 3 headed monster and got a good goalie so will be tough to beat this year for sure.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

*Clarification needed to show that, although I still thought your pick had a good chance to have a shot at Matthews, I wasn't responsible for the "LOL, Good luck with that"

I'm cruel and stingy with my inheritance, but not heartless.

That might have been your predecessor, or maybe a slight exaggeration on my part!