Bailey Biddle
The Predators lost a heart-breaking game in overtime against the Dallas Stars that eliminated the Central Division champs from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With the Nashville Predators making the Stanley Cup Final as the 8thseed just two years ago, this series loss feels like a major disappointment. There was no expectation from fans when the Predators made the cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final and gained many more loyal fans. Jump forward one year and the Predators won the coveted Presidents’ Trophy.
For the people that do not know what the Presidents’ Trophy is, it is given to the team with the best record in the National Hockey League. Yes, it is hard to believe that the team with the best record in the NHL last year got dominated by the Dallas Stars. Even last year with all the high expectations for the Predators to make a second straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance, it ended in a second-round loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
What went wrong for a team that had the best starting record in franchise history and began the season with banners being put in the rafters? It starts with the power-play. The Predators were the worst team in the NHL on the power-play and it was an Achilles’ heel all season long.
Nashville was the first team in 10 years to qualify for the playoffs with the worst power-play in the league and converted only 33 goals of their 269 attempts. They are also the 11thteam in 30 years that was unable to score a power-play goal in the postseason. In addition, the Predators outstanding top line that consisted of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson did not score a single goal in the postseason.
This poor showing on the ice contributed to countless things that happened during the regular season that affected the team in a negative way. All season long the Predators dealt with numerous injuries, trades and a suspension that brought about a lot of change throughout the organization. Two key players on offense and defense, Forsberg and PK Subban, were out for a significant amount of time during the season with injuries as well as many other players.
Yes, injuries happen in every sport but I do not use this as an excuse for the Predators inconsistent play during both regular and postseason. It has been four years since the Predators has been eliminated in the first round and to be honest, I am still shocked. You could say that this Dallas Stars playoff series defined the Predators season.
Great start, mediocre finish, terrible defense and inconsistent offensive play. Sometimes it felt like the only thing consistent about the Predators is the inconsistencies and knowing we would not score on a power-play. I am a Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators fan, and it feels like there is high expectations every year that they do not achieve.
As I have referenced above the first moment of utter sadness was in game seven of last year’s playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets. I have tried to block this game from my memory, but it was a critical game seven in Nashville and if Predators win, they go to Western Conference Finals. They lost five to one and this one hurt deep, let’s take a trip down memory lane with these highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm8gO63JXq0.
Another classic Tennessee sports underachieving moment was with the Tennessee Titans this past regular season. I personally was able to witness this game first hand from Nissan Stadium and it was the interception thrown by Blaine Gabbert that cost the Titans the playoffs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pohFh-bxzI. The stakes were extremely high on week 17 Sunday Night Football, where the Titans faced the Colts in a win or go home game.
The Titans lost all the momentum they had late in the fourth quarter when Gabbert threw one of the worst interceptions I have ever seen in my life. Needless to say, it is tough being a fan of Tennessee professional sports. Just when I thought the Predators were on the verge of something great, they go out and lay an egg.
The Predators will be back to the playoffs next year and will have to make crucial decisions this offseason that may alter this franchise in a positive or negative way. I cannot do justice by simply writing down this quote that defines what fans think about a Stanley Cup making its way to Nashville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMRrNY0pxfM. Looking back on this season as a Predators fan, it was a major disappointment.
Automatically, my first reaction of the loss was an overreaction where I thought someone needed to be blamed, fired or traded. I know it’s hard to imagine someone like me overreacting but look at the NHL playoffs as a whole this season. The best team in the NHL this year was the Tampa Bay Lightning and they were swept.
The number one seed in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames, were eliminated in the first round. The Stanley Cup winners of last year, the Washington Capitals, had an early exit as they were defeated in game seven in double overtime. There were many upsets in the first round of the playoffs this year and I am here to tell you to relax.
David Polie, the general manager of the Predators, strives for consistency in his organization and will makes changes if necessary. The Predators loss can affect them negatively but they can turn it into motivation and learning points for next season.