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Nashville Predators: X-Factors to Watch in 1st Round Against Colorado

By Chad Minton |
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 18: Filip Forsberg
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 18: Filip Forsberg
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No more guessing and predicting who the Nashville Predators will take on to open up the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche are the first challenge.

There’s a much different feeling going into these playoffs than 2017 for the Nashville Predators. In terms of the regular season, their sitting on the throne. The Presidents’ Trophy winner and the champions of arguably the toughest division in hockey. Both are historic firsts for the franchise.

With all of this regular season success comes enormous pressure. There was virtually no pressure when they took on Chicago last year. The Avalanche are looking to play the same role the Predators played in 2017. That’s some irony that the Predators want to avoid. They’ve got a four-game sweep of the season series over Colorado going in their favor. But the regular season means nothing come playoff time.

There are several x-factors, players to watch in this series from both teams. How these players play under the bright lights of the playoffs will dictate the outcome. On paper, the Predators are clearly the better team. Ironically, don’t tell these Predators that a wildcard team can’t shock the top-seeded team for the upset.

NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators waves to the crowd after his overtime game winning penalty shot against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 13: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators waves to the crowd after his overtime game winning penalty shot against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Filip Forsberg

It’s been an up and down season for Forsberg. His three-game suspension in February still baffles me, and an upper-body injury sidelined him for most of January. Despite the rocky season,  he’s entering the playoffs on a hot streak. His hat trick in the season finale against Columbus puts his season total at 26 goals in 67 games. This also puts him at 60-plus points again, and the Predators need this hot streak to continue to the postseason. Check out the company Forsberg is joining with his four consecutive 20-plus goal seasons to start his career, per Elias Sports Bureau:

The only other current NHL players born outside North America who produced a streak of four or more consecutive 20-goal seasons beginning with their rookie season are Alex Ovechkin (13 seasons), Thomas Vanek (10), Anze Kopitar (six) and Evgeni Malkin (four).

Forsberg is blossoming before our eyes. These playoffs could very well end up being his launching point onto the NHL’s main stage. He’s playing on a great line with Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen, taking pressure off of him to be the only guy. That doesn’t mean he won’t take over games with multiple points, shots on goal and scoring chances.

I expect Forsberg to take charge and be the main scoring threat. The Predators need him to step up and be the star player he’s capable of being. He’s got the supporting cast, but it’s time for him to rise to the occasion to be the superstar.

NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 23: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 23: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche have their own secret weapon that has the skills to make this series interesting. MacKinnon has burst onto the scene this season, shattering his career high in goals (39) from his previous four NHL seasons. He had a 14-game point streak that ended in late March, and he’s not appearing to slow down.

MacKinnon is in the conversation for the Hart Trophy, and rightfully so. He can do it all at the center position and will be a major challenge for the Predators. What makes MacKinnon tough for the opposition is his versatility. He has stick skills, above average skating ability and can get physical if needed. The fact that he’s transformed from a 20-goal scorer to nearly 40 goals this season is eye-opening. The Predators can’t let him take over this series and stretch this thing out to seven games.

Against the Predators this season, MacKinnon’s play is mixed bag. He has two goals, but a plus-minus of minus-six. My biggest question is can he live up to the pressure of the playoffs, and in a hostile environment like Bridgestone Arena will bring. He has the tools, but can he do it mentally as hell have to do a lot of heavy lifting for his team.

BUFFALO, NY – MARCH 19: Fans watch as P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators skates during warmups before an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 19, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – MARCH 19: Fans watch as P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators skates during warmups before an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 19, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images) /

P.K. Subban

It oddly feels like Subban is flying under the radar right now. He may not be grabbing headlines, but he’s remaining very productive. His 59 points are one shy of his career high from 2014-15. He’s piling up the assists and has been critical on the Predators’  sixth-ranked penalty kill. That’s where he’s going to really make a difference in this series.

I’m at the realization that the Predators are going to take a lot of penalties. They’re aggressive and take a lot of chances, which leads to more penalties. Subban is going to be relied upon to stay sharp on the penalty kill. It could end up being the difference in making quick work of Colorado, or this series going the distance.

Another thing on Subban is what he’s doing on the power play. Almost half of his team-leading 43 assists came on the power play. To avoid a power-play slump in this series, Subban has to remain productive.

DENVER, CO – MARCH 16: Nick Bonino #13 of the Nashville Predators defends against Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MARCH 16: Nick Bonino #13 of the Nashville Predators defends against Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Mikko Rantanen

Rantanen is an 80-plus point scorer that plays alongside MacKinnon on the top line. The Avalanche can’t match the Predators’ overall depth, but they have some serious talent at the top. Rantanen is going to give the Predators some problems and be one of the main scoring threats. Head coach Peter Laviolette touched on the top line that Rantanen plays on, per the Tennessean:

We know that we’re going to have to be sharp defensively. Their top line is one of the best lines in the league. We’re going to have our hands full with that.

If the Predators neutralize the main threats that Colorado possesses, I don’t see this series lasting past five games. However, Rantanen is one of the main weapons along with MacKinnon on this young squad. He really started to explode in March with eight goals.

MacKinnon will get all of the attention, but don’t forget about Rantanen. This young, but talented, winger can tally multiple goals in any given game and steal a game or two in this series.

NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 22: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators acknowledges the fans applause on his 300th career win after a 7-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 22: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators acknowledges the fans applause on his 300th career win after a 7-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on February 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Pekka Rinne

Rinne is the key to winning the Stanley Cup, not just this first-round series. With that said, I’m not easily writing off Colorado. There’s a reason they had such a big turnaround this season, and it’s because they’ve got loads of young talent that have arrived earlier than expected.

The Predators’ speed is going to be tested by Colorado’s aggressiveness. Rinne is going up against a fast Colorado attack that’s near the top of the league in goals per game. It will be one of the biggest travesties in the history of sports awards if Rinne doesn’t get the Vezina Trophy. He will have to back up his monumental regular season with a sharp series against Colorado.

He’s the biggest x-factor in this series because of his ability to offset any other problem areas the Predators might face. If the Predators struggle to score, capitalize on the power play or take too many penalties, Rinne is the guy who can offset that. If he’s locked in, the Predators will cruise through this series without much drama.

MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Turris #8 of the Nashville Predators takes a shot against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Nashville Predators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Turris #8 of the Nashville Predators takes a shot against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Nashville Predators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Kyle Turris

My final x-factor goes to Turris. The JoFA line gets all of the attention, but some of that needs to go to Turris’ line. Countless times the Predators haven’t looked their best, but still win thanks to Turris and his leadership on the second line. He’s easily the most rewarding acquisition of this past year as the Predators can match any top two lines in the NHL.

Turris can’t disappear in this series. It could be the difference in a first-round exit and a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final. He’s instrumental in so many scoring plays, even if he doesn’t register a point on the play. He forces the action and gets the things started in the opposition’s zone.

Next: Regular Season Awards for Predators

The Turris line’s success can make a nightmare for any team, especially a team like Colorado than can’t match the depth. Turris elevates the play of Craig Smith and Kevin Fiala, his running mates on the second line. Smith has set a career high in goals this year with 25, and Fiala has also elevated his game playing with Turris.

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