Posted by Three points.
Two games.
The Predators were trying to hop the competition into the playoffs...
One extra win for the good guys, and one extra loss for the bad
Maybe that’s all it would’ve taken, and the Nasvhille Predators would have been back to the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
Instead, the Predators slipped to tenth, joining the ninth-place Minnesota Wild as onlookers to the Anaheim Ducks and St Louis Blues, the two teams that crashed their way into the playoffs.
If you wanted reasons as to why the Predators couldn’t scrounge up enough gutso to sneak into the playoffs again, you could really choose from a plethora of reasons: For one, the Predators didn’t get enough points on the road. While their 16 road wins weren’t the fewest in the league (there were five teams with fewer), their 24 regulation road losses were second-most in the league behind the New York Islanders.
The Islanders? Jeepers creepers!
If you were to compare records with a playoff-bound team, the Columbus Blue Jackets (also of the Central Division), also had just 16 road wins. The difference is that Columbus, although having a poorer overtime record on the road than Nashville (4-7 compared to the Preds 6-4), went to overtime in more of their losses, so instead of getting no points, they were able to scrounge up an extra three points over the Preds.
You know, the difference between them and the playoffs.
There’s one thing I don’t like about that stat thought: It encourages losing. Remember in 2005/06 when the Edmonton Oilers edged into the playoffs on a healthy diet of OT losses? With five more than their nearest competitor (Vancouver), the three-point gap (and subsequent Oilers Stanley Cup run) between the two teams was created specifically by the Oilers’ abundance of losing in OT.
So now I’m stuck asking the question: Would I rather have a team that goes 12-8 in the extra frame and miss the playoffs, or would you rather go 11-10 with a bunch of heart-breaking losses and make the playoffs? Of course you want to win more than you lose, but when it’s the difference between golf and playoff hockey? The decision is a catch-22.
The other problem that the Predators ran into, was injuries.
Thinking about it, the injury bug started years ago with the Preds, as Steve Sullivan just returned to NHL action this season after a 150-game layoff.
From there, it got worse.
Jason Arnott suffered a concussion and was shut down for March. David Legwand broke his cheek in practice, forcing Allen Iverson to collapse in a fit of giggles.
After all, only suckers practice.
Following that, Martin Erat broke his leg, ending his season before he could reach the 57-point plateau for the third-straight year.
And just as kind of a “damned-if-you-do” note, the Predators called up defenseman Alexander Sulzer for his first-ever NHL action. Two games in, the 24 year-old separated his shoulder. Season over. Not the biggest hit, but frustrating none the less.
When it comes down to it though, the Predators just couldn’t stay strong going into the stretch run.
In the end, the Predators tripped themselves up on the way to the postseason
Over their last 10 games the Preds ended up going 5-4-1. Not terrible, but when you consider that:
A) This is playoff time and slackers are packers—packers of their gear and unpackers of their golf-clubs,
and
B) The three teams—Anaheim, St Louis, and Minnesota—that Nasvhille was competing with for the playoffs each had at least 13 points or more over those ten games, compared to Nashville’s 11, the Preds chances seemed slim.
And just for proof:
St Louis Blues: 8-1-1 in last ten, finished sixth in West
Anaheim Ducks: 7-2-1 in last ten, finished eighth in West
Minnesota Wild: 6-3-1 in last ten, finished ninth in West
Nashville Predators: 5-4-1 in last ten, finished tenth in West
A sad, but true fact.
But the season was far from a loss. Shea Weber (Who also set a franchise record for most goals by a defenseman in a season with 23) and Ryan Suter continued to exert their dominance as one of the top defensive pairings in the league offensively, Jason Arnott set a new franchise mark for goals in a season with 33, Pekka Rinne emerged as one of the top young goaltenders in the West, and JP Dumont led the team in scoring for the second-straight year—only the second player to do so.
The other two were Paul Kariya and Cliff Ronning, and Ronning did it four-straight seasons.
Oh and the Predators had another benchmark this year too: while teams like Columbus, Los Angeles, and Calgary came close, the Preds were the only team with three defenseman who played all 82 games: Suter, Dan Hamhuis, and Greg Zanon (and they could’ve had a fourth, but Shea Weber only played 81 games).
Hopefully longevity counts for something down the road.
So another season is over, this time before the first Catfish was flung. Hopefully the Preds will be back and better next year, but if they can get all the kids on the same page—the score sheet—they should be alright.
If you do miss the Preds and coach Barry Trotz though, be sure to follow Canada during the 2009 IIHF World Hockey Championships.
It may not be the chase for the Cup, but with Trotz assisting Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, Canada should be a fun team to watch.
Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Nashville Predators
Rinne brings Wild streak to an end
The Never Ending Story: Alexander Radulov Continues to Hold the Nashville Predators in Limbo
Coyotes Look For First Win Post-All Star Break
The Olympic Performances of Weber and Suter Bring Up Some Tough Questions About Nashville
Predators Spank Wings 8-0
We hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!
