The Nashville Predators may not have much hope for that second wildcard spot after Saturday night's loss in Winnipeg, but there is still plenty to play for - as a team and individually - tonight in Calgary.
The Nashville Predators may not have much hope for that second wildcard spot after Saturday night's loss in Winnipeg, but there is still plenty to play for - as a team and individually - tonight in Calgary.
After a rocky performance and a tough loss against the Winnipeg Jets Saturday night, the Nashville Predators' chances for the postseason shrunk down to 2.4% according to moneypuck.com. A win tonight against the Calgary Flames and a collapse by the Jets keeps things interesting right down to the wire for Nashville.
But (slim) playoff hope aside, there is still plenty to play for tonight against Tyler Toffoli, Jacob Markstrom, and the Calgary Flames.
Nashville's record of late has been anything but linear. The team put together strong performances against Boston, St. Louis, Vegas, and Carolina, but only two of those games came in back to back wins. Tonight needs to be a statement game after Winnipeg ran the Predators ragged for two periods. Being able to respond and make adjustments is something head coach John Hynes wants to see from his players tonight.
The Predators roster is currently made up of nine players who have logged minutes with the Milwaukee Admirals, two defensemen and one forward who joined the team at the trade deadline, and the newest addition who was playing NCAA hockey just a month ago. Tonight's game is one more chance for these players to show David Poile, incoming GM Barry Trotz, and head coach John Hynes what they bring to the team before the season ends. With plenty of draft capital in hand, the Predators have an opportunity to make some big deals in the offseason so the time to showcase what each individual brings to the collective whole is now.
Looking ahead to what appears to be next season's return of Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene, these last few games are an opportunity for Tommy Novak, Cody Glass, Phil Tomasino, and Luke Evangelista to show they are not just play makers but finishers. Of course, roster decisions for next season won't be made in April, but a standout offensive performance now may open a door to a better opportunity in camp this summer. Executing well and finishing chances in the offensive zone will help the Predators tonight against Calgary but also provide individual players another game to make a lasting impression.
Then there is still that slim playoff hope. If Nashville can win tonight, the "miracle" conversation continues for a few more days depending on how Winnipeg's final games play out. The bottom line is that what the Predators have done since the trade deadline and with a slew of injuries has been one of the league's more impressive stories down the stretch. Even if the wildcard spot is off the table, fans in Nashville aren't quite ready to wrap up an inspiring run of hockey.
The Predators take on the Calgary Flames tonight at 8:30 pm CST. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South while 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.
Related Reading:
Predators - 0, Jets - 2: Magic Missing in Must Win Game for Nashville