Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The Nashville Predators looked like they were on their way to forcing a Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks until the playoff veterans turned the corner in the first period.
11 minutes into the first period, the Predators were out to a 3-1 lead. That evaporated by the time they went into intermission. When a team is playoff-ready, they score goals when they need them. The Blackhawks got that goal with less than four minutes left in the game, giving them the win.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Predators learned more in this series than they know. They played against one of the best teams in the league, and forced the Hawks to Game 6. They have players in place that they could build around. Pekka Rinne is one of the better goalies in the NHL this season. He is up for the Vezina Trophy this season. The team was put on his back, and he carried them to the playoffs despite nobody picking them to get there prior to the season.
A good majority of teams are trying to figure out how to survive with a below-average player in net. The Predators won’t have to worry about their netminder for many years.
Then there’s Shea Weber. He is one of the best, if not the best defensemen in the league. He is under contract for over a decade. He is showing no signs of slowing down. He is the biggest advantage the Predators have.
Looking at the rest of the Predators’ roster, they will have no problem continuing to be contenders in the Western Conference. Obviously, there is rookie Filip Forsberg, who led the team in goals and points. He is going to be the player they build their offense around for the coming years.
Then there is Roman Josi, who became a legitimate scoring threat on the blue line this season. He is only 24 years old, so his prime is yet to come. They also have Seth Jones, who was rated as the best prospect in his draft. Luckily for the Preds, the three teams picking before them went for offense. Now, they have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL.
This loss is terrible for the Predators and their fans, but their future is very bright. They could be Cup contenders next season with the right moves. That makes this loss much easier to swallow.
Nick Villano is the New Jersey Devils writer for Rant Sports. He also adds to the site’s NBA, MLB and NFL content. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your Google circle.
