It’s hard to wrap your mind around how the Nashville Predators have made it to the final 10 games of the regular season with playoff hopes, although small, still intact.
After last night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, those playoff hopes took a major blow. Even still, the fact they’ve remained even relevant is a mini miracle of sorts.
What has been the key to defying the odds after heavy selling at the trade deadline and crushing injuries? I think we can use the old sports motto of “next one up” mentality and everyone doing their job.
The Predators have suddenly used a strong defensive game, and of course stellar goaltending from Juuse Saros, to hold opponents to low goal totals in a majority of their recent games during a stretch when many thought the Predators would finally cave in and fall completely out of contention.
It hasn’t happened yet, and the Predators will be playing meaningful hockey games going into April, with their next game of a huge magnitude against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday as they return home to Bridgestone Arena.
Let’s take a look at my five players who have been most impactful to keeping the Nashville Predators afloat through all of the roster turnover.