Inconsistent Nashville Predators Clinch Playoff Birth Despite Late Season Swoon
Wins have been at a premium this month for the road weary Nashville Predators. The Cats played seven of their last nine game away from the Bridgestone Center and it starting to take a toll of the team and their performance.
With only four win in the last nine games the Predators look less like a team poised to make a seventh playoff appearance in eight year and more like a team running on fumes.
Nashville had no answer for the St. Louis Blues tight defense after falling behind in a 3-0 loss. The Blues choked the the Preds into submission with a defense the 1995 New Jersey Devils would be envious of.
But, thanks to a little help from their friends the Predators are in the big dance.
Nashville clinched their third straight playoff appearance by default on Wednesday, thanks to regulation loses from the Avalanche and Flames. Now the team must focus on finishing the season strong at perhaps earning home-ice advantage in the first round.
Since March 12, the Predators have gone 4-4-1. They have outscored their opponents 17-7 in the four wins but have been crushed 20-7 in their five losses. The lack of consistency screams red flag and could spell early round doom for Alexander Radulov and company.
The Predators faces a crucial back-to-back situation this upcoming weekend against the teams they are sandwiched between in the standings. Which Nashville team is going to show up in arguably the most important two games of the year?
Nashville finds itself playing “who wants home ice advantage,” with the Detroit Red Wings. They remain one point behind the Red Wings for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, but have a chance to move past them on Friday when they meet head-to-head in Detroit.
The Predators will then fly home to host the Chicago Blackhawks, who trail them by three points in the standings, on Saturday night.
I hate to use the term ‘measuring stick” but that is precisely how this weekend can be viewed. We should know one way or another if the Preds are a real threat or in danger of collapsing under the weight of high expectations.
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