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Nashville Predators: Looking Back at Their Best Starts to the Season

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Peter Laviolette and assistant coach Kevin McCarthy of the Nashville Predators wear lavender ties for Hockey Fights Cancer night against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 15, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Peter Laviolette and assistant coach Kevin McCarthy of the Nashville Predators wear lavender ties for Hockey Fights Cancer night against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on November 15, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 29: Peter Laviolette, head coach of the Nashville Predators watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on March 29, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 29: Peter Laviolette, head coach of the Nashville Predators watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on March 29, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Peter Laviolette’s debut

I can still recall the unrest going into this season after seeing Barry Trotz leave the bench for the Predators.

As tough as it was, both parties knew it was time to go separate ways.

Today, hardcore Nashville fans may still be slightly upset with the success Trotz went on to have, winning a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals, yet, seeing a brand new face behind the bench still brought a different level of excitement to Predators hockey.

Given his mixed track record, many were cautiously optimistic about Peter Laviolette coming on board, however, after leading Nashville to an impressive 5-0-2 start through the first seven games, supporters were hopeful in the new direction the team was going.

The 5-0-2 start would blossom into a 16-5-2 record in late November. The Predators cruised through the entire 2014-15 season before having another 2nd-place finish in the Central Division.

Overall, Laviolette employed a much more aggressive style that features high intensity and uses the additional speed to help create further scoring chances. This brand of hockey quickly found success for players such as Filip Forsberg, James Neal, and Colin Wilson.

In short, this was perhaps the deepest roster that the Predators put on the ice as six players managed to score 42 points or more; a list that did not feature talented players such as Neal and Mike Fisher.

Next. How is Eeli Tolvanen Doing in the AHL?. dark

In frustrating fashion though,  the Predators would draw another tough first-round opponent in the Blackhawks. They would get their revenge the following year, but this talented Predators team would ultimately come up short of meeting expectations.

Will 2018-2019 serve differently? After one of the team’s best starts in Franchise history, we certainly expect it too.

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