Nashville Predators: From lowest seed to NHL’s top team in 365 days

It started in the first round

We cannot begin to talk about this season without mentioning the first round last year. To some, it may feel like we are beating a dead horse. If you are thinking that way right now, you are a Blackhawks’ fan. The truth is this season does not happen if the first round in last year’s playoffs didn’t end the way it did.

The Nashville Predators have faced the Chicago Blackhawks 109 times, with a record of 48-48-4-9 all time. While it is the third most wins against any opponent, the Predators have only a .500 points percentage against Chicago. That ranks 24th among Predators’ opponents. Only 4 goals separate the two teams. It is the truest definition of a rivalry.

The two teams faced each other three times in the playoffs in the last 10 years. Chicago took each of the first two series 4-2. In 2010, the Predators tallied 15 goals even with being shutout twice. Chicago just beat Nashville out in the final two highly-contested games. The 2015 series was even closer, with the Predators outscoring Chicago 21-19. Two games went to multiple overtimes.

But, in 2017, things changed. Dramatically. Chicago was the top seed in the Western Conference, Nashville was the lowest. However, the Blackhawks never showed up, failing to score a single goal at home during the series. In four games, the Nashville Predators dismantled the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.

Now, the Predators are the Presidents’ Trophy winner, and the Blackhawks will miss the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Vezina-worthy Rinne

Coming into the season, many fans and pundits expressed concerns about the play of Pekka Rinne. At 35 years of age, expectations were to see a decline in his play from last year to now. What we witnessed was spectacular.

In my bold predictions before the season, I stated Rinne would win 40 games even if he did not play in 65 matches. I added that his quality start percentage would be closer to .600, and with a goals against average of 2.2. I was right.

Sorry, not sorry.

Rinne has been amazing. Playing only 58 games so far, he has a record of 41-13-4. He has a .627 quality start percentage and 2.32 goals against average. More than that, he leads the NHL with 8 shutouts and 26.27 goals saved above average. The numbers suggest this season was one of – if not the – best seasons of Rinne’s career.

Please, hand the man the Vezina.

The right moves

This season, we witnessed history for David Poile. By beating the Edmonton Oilers on March 1, the Nashville Predators made Poile the winningest General Manager in the 100-year history of the NHL. His legacy is cemented for all time.

But, it is not just the wins which characterize his career; it is the transactions. Making trades for P.K. Subban, Ryan Johansen, and Filip Forsberg built a team with the ability to play at both ends of the ice. The addition of Kyle Turris sparked the offense early in the season, propelling the Predators to the top of the Central Division.

Signing Nick Bonino added depth and physicality the Predators needed. Allowing James Neal to leave provided space for Kevin Fiala to grow.

And, how about letting Barry Trotz go in order to bring in Peter Laviolette to coach the team? David Poile built this team and deserves as much of the credit as anyone.

Offensive Explosion

Concerns about the team’s ability to score were voiced after Neal was exposed in the Expansion Draft. Losing your third best goal-scorer is never ideal, but it happened. Between his departure, Colin Wilson being traded, and Mike Fisher‘s retirement the Predators lost 53 goals from last year. With 240 goals, the 2016-17 Nashville Predators rated 11th in the NHL.

Another bold prediction coming into this year was the Predator would be a top-five scoring team. Guess what: I was close. With 263 goals on the year, the Predators rank 6th in the NHL. They are five goals behind the Penguins for fifth. Yes, even missing Neal, Wilson and Fisher, the Predators scored 23 more goals this year.

But how? I said Viktor Arvidsson and Forsberg would reach 30 goals each. Only Arvidsson can hit that mark now. However, another prediction was Bonino, Fiala, and Craig Smith would earn 60 goals.  This was, of course, assuming Bonino was on the second line all season. Still, the trio reached 60 goals. Add another 13 for Turris. Austin Watson earned 13 goals this year which is 8 more than his career high. Calle Jarnkrok tied his career high in 13 fewer games played compared to the last two seasons.

Oh, here is one more correct predictions on the year.

They (Predators) will lead more than 20 games after the opening period. It will be closer to 35. They will score first in 45 games. Why? Because they will score 70 goals in the opening period, allowing only 55. And the Predators will win 34 of those games.

Here are the numbers:

Scored first in 50 games. Lead after the first period in 30 games. The Predators have scored 69 goals in the first period while allowing 49. And, their record after scoring first is 40-4-6.

Next: Predators Get Monumental Victory to Claim Presidents’ Trophy

All in all, the success the Nashville Predators witnessed this season started by making the playoffs last year. Now, let’s sit back and see how the playoffs progress.