Nashville Predators: Penalties Are Just a Part of It

As the most penalized team in the NHL, being shorthanded is just part of Nashville’s game style and we need to accept that.

Nobody likes being shorthanded, especially in the playoffs, where every goal is crucial. However, at this point in the season, the Nashville Predators‘ penalty problem is just a lost cause. Nashville was the single most penalized team in the NHL during the regular season with 928 penalty minutes.

That’s almost 11.5 penalty minutes per game…

Most of the time, a number like that would be a huge strike against a team. 11.5 PIM per game is enough to lose a handful of games. If a team spends almost 12 minutes per game on the penalty kill, the law of averages says that they will surrender AT LEAST 1 power play goal per game. Most coaches would lose their mind over a number like that. Not to say that Peter Laviolette is okay with Nashville’s record amount of time in the penalty box, but clearly, he understands that it’s a part of their game.

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Nashville’s Style

At this point in the season, we might as well accept the fact that Nashville will take a couple penalties per game. A few trips to the box is what Nashville sacrifices with its aggressive style of play.

With great depth across the offensive and defensive lines, the Predators have the ability to take risks and go on the attack more than many other teams. Defensemen are able to pinch the blue line more and go into the corners because they know that their partners and back-checking forwards will be there to cover them.

The Predators’ aggressive style of play is something that is at the core of their success. Nashville forces mistakes and then capitalizes off of those on the offensive end. All season, Nashville’s astounding number of penalty minutes has been a topic of debate. Obviously, a team does not want to be short-handed. However, for Nashville, a few penalties per game isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Especially, during the playoffs.

Why So Aggressive?

Personally, I am a fan of roughing up the other team every once in a while. Sometimes a guy just needs to get hit or catch an elbow in the corner. Hockey is a full-contact sport, and most of the time, the more physical team will win…whether or not the physicality is completely legal. While players definitely try to rough each other up a bit after the play, sometimes clean hits turn dirty and draw penalties. That’s just part of the fast-paced game.

Similarly, physicality is how a team establishes itself. The Predators have made a noticeable effort to hit Nathan MacKinnon at every possible moment. With superstars like MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Sidney Crosby, you just have to hit them.

You can’t allow them to skate freely and have space. There needs to be a defender on them at all times, and they need to be accounted for. If that accountability means taking a few penalties, then that’s just what you have to do.

At this point in the season, it doesn’t matter how you win, just that you do.

The Benefits

In the playoffs, referees tend to swallow their whistles more, and let the game go. That being said, games are often more physical, and sometimes get out of hand. Players get chippy and try to get under the skin of the opponents.

Nashville’s physical style of play works well with this playoff tendency.

Colorado is a young team with little playoff experience. At this point in the season, the mental aspect of a game is just as important as the physical one, and the Avalanche simply do not have the mental fortitude to hang with the Predators.

Being able to psych out an opponent is a huge advantage. Chippy play is a great way to get in someone’s head.

With fewer penalties being called in the playoffs, players get frustrated. A frustrated Nathan MacKinnon is what Nashville needs. If #29 is worried about who’s going to hit him next, then he isn’t thinking about scoring goals. With a core of veteran players and lots of playoff experience, it’s hard to shake the Nashville Predators. However, Nathan MacKinnon is a 22-year old in his first playoffs. He is Colorado’s leader, and if he is shaken, the rest of the team will be.

That is just what the Predators want.

Next: Nashville Predators: The road to the Stanley Cup goes through Nashville

Nobody likes being shorthanded, however, it’s just a part of Nashville’s game. They seemed to be alright this season with the penalties, so I don’t see a reason to change their style of play.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Go Preds Go!