After winning the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators are primed to make another run at the Stanley Cup. Can they win it? Yes. Here is how.
The NHL season has reached its second half, and team dreams of making the playoffs understand the importance of every game. Every point in the standing matters. Luckily, the Nashville Predators find themselves atop the Central Division; however, only 10 points separate the Predators from the bottom-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks.
Needless to say, the race to win the division will be tough. As will the Western Conference. Four teams in the conference have 59 or more points. Twelve of 15 teams in the west have a positive goal differential. Nine teams win more than lose on while on the road.
Winning the division does matter to the Predators. It will assure them on home ice advantage for most of the playoffs. It will not be enough for them, though. After tasting the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, the hunger for a championship drives them. That is not to say the season is “Cup or Bust,” because it is not the Predators’ style. The desire for a championship is strong, and the team possesses the ability to earn it.
“Wait a minute? Aren’t you the guy who wrote why the Preds won’t win the Cup?” Why, yes I am. Thanks for noticing. In that article, I laid out reasons to keep them from winning it all. Just making it to the Cup Final is difficult. This team can do it.
How? Well, for several reasons.