• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Nashville Predators

Predators Prevail Against Adversity, Clinch Playoff Spot

By Colin Fitts March 28th, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Remember that eleven game stretch from February 26 through March 17 in which the Nashville Predators had a record of 2-8-1? The disastrous meltdown could have been written in Revelations. With playoff time around the corner, it was easy to dismiss Nashville’s Stanley Cup hopes.

After blowing a third period lead for the second consecutive game in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on March 17, the Predators’ unforgiving schedule allowed them to have a three day rest. At one point during those three days, someone flipped a switch, and the Predators returned to form.

(Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

(Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Since then, Nashville has won four straight games, two of which — the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning — were among the NHL’s best.

Nashville’s leading scorer Filip Forsberg, who did not score a goal in those 11 games, has two during this win streak. Their second leading scorer Mike Ribeiro snapped a nine-game goal drought against Tampa Bay and is now on a two-game goal streak. Mike Santorelli, who only tallied an assist since joining the team on February 21, scored his first goal, a game-winner, against Tampa Bay.

Basically, the Predators win when their go-to guys score.

By defeating the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Saturday, the Predators became the second team to clinch a playoff spot.

Scoring First

To win games in the NHL, it is extremely important to be the first team on the scoreboard. In 14 games stretching from February 17 through March 13, the Predators gave up the first goal in 13 of those games. Coincidentally, Nashville had a losing record of 5-8-1.

During this four-game winning streak, the Predators have scored first in each game. When scoring first this season, they are 26-2-4.

The Healthier the Better

The injury bug has hit the Predators’ locker room in an undesirable way. Captain Shea Weber missed Saturday’s game due to a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. James Neal, suffering an upper-body injury, has not seen game action since March 12. Penalty-killer Eric Nystrom has been out since March 3 with a lower-body injury. Lastly, Matt Cullen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and has been out since March 21.

Weber’s injury comes as a surprise because there was no apparent injury in the previous game against Tampa Bay. The good news, however, is Neal and Cullen have been skating, so their return should come soon.

The Home Stretch

Nashville will conclude the remaining six games of its regular schedule against Western Conference opponents, including a match against potential first round opponent Minnesota on April 9.

It will be interesting to see how head coach Peter Laviolette will handle the goaltending situation. Will he ride Pekka Rinne for most of the way or rest him? With home-ice advantage on the line and seeking a favorable playoff match-up (if there is such a thing), Laviolette should start Rinne in at least four of the next six games.

Subscribe to our Predators stories to get email updates every time a new story is published.

Colin Fitts is a Nashville Predators staff writer for The Hockey Writers. You can follow him on Twitter, @FittsTHW.

  • Tags
  • Filip Forsberg
  • Mike Ribeiro
  • Mike Santorelli
  • Pekka Rinne
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Jan 22nd 5:15 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Newcomers Finding Their Roles

Jan 22nd 5:05 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ New Third Pairing Paying Early Dividends

Jan 22nd 4:55 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Could Use Heinola’s Offensive Skill & Hockey IQ for Seasons to Come

Jan 22nd 4:45 PM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes Must Improve After COVID-19 Pause

Jan 22nd 4:30 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Power Play Lacks A Lot

Jan 22nd 4:20 PM
Women's Hockey

Meet the NWHL’s EBUG: Mariah Fujimagari

Jan 22nd 4:10 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Rewarded Early by New Top Line of Tkachuk, Lindholm & Dube

Jan 22nd 3:55 PM
NHL Goaltending

Sabres Goaltending Issues Are the Main Concern to Start Season

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information