Stats, Stats, and Anything Happens in the Playoffs
There was an interesting article done over at HockeyBuzz that analyzes postseason matchups, and it hypothesized some results that Predator fans might like to look over.
Take Nashville’s first round opponent options, the Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings. The Preds dropped only 1 of 6 games during regulation against the two teams during the season- and let’s keep in mind the glorious fact that 3 on 3 overtime hockey doesn’t exist in the playoffs.
At home, the Predators are 7-1-4 in their last 12 (did you get where 3 vs. 3 doesn’t exist in the playoffs?). It’s going to be tough for visiting teams to get wins out of Smashville.
Also, one more statistic Nashville fans will be happy to hear- there is no 3 on 3 overtime in the playoffs. That’s something to raise your fangs to.
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The Predators aren’t a team who the media like to bring up when talking Cup contenders, but neither were the Carolina Hurricanes when they won everything in 2006- and, remind me again, who was their head coach? Peter Laviolette knows how to get the most from a small market team, and if All-Star goaltender Pekka Rinne stabilizes and performs at the All-Star level which he is capable of, the Predators are a threat to each and every team that steps onto the ice with them.