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Five Reachable Goals for the Revamped Nashville Predators in 2023-24

By Chad Minton

Cole Smith #36 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at the TD Garden on March 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Predators won 2-1.(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
Cole Smith #36 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at the TD Garden on March 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Predators won 2-1.(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Goal #5: Win a Playoff Series for the First Time Since 2018 Against Avalanche

Let me reiterate that this should not be the only goal for the Nashville Predators as a team. It should always be the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup, but for the sake of this exercise, winning a playoff series would tie everything else together from the first four reachable goals.

The last time the Predators won a playoff series was the year they won the President’s Trophy and drew the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. The series win didn’t come easy despite being the favorites, but they got it done and went on to take the brutal Game 7 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets in the next round.

This current roster after the offseason moves and a continuing developing crop of young talent gives me fairly high confidence that getting to the second round isn’t a crazy expectations to have.

As many would agree, the coaching staff with Hynes leading the way just wasn’t meshing well. There were some core veterans that are now gone and didn’t bring the playoff clutch factor that you need to win a grueling seven-game series.

Trending. Did the Predators Do Too Much or Not Enough This Offseason?. light

I’m circling back to how vital the O’Reilly signing can end up being. He’s the type of playoff clutch player that will be invaluable to pulling off a first round upset. And not just O’Reilly, but also Luke Schenn who has personal playoff success as well with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And this will always hold true; if you have an elite caliber goalie in net, anything can happen. Saros is due to steal a series for the Nashville Predators. Mark it down.

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