Predators have chance to do something special this season
By Chris Clark
After clinching the NHL Playoffs, the Nashville Predators have a chance to add more history to an already historic season by winning a trio of awards.
The Predators needed just 71 games to clinch a playoff spot this season. That’s the fastest in the NHL this season. They also set a franchise record with a 14-game road point streak. They broke the franchise record for longest winning streak with ten games.
You get my point, right? I could go on-and-on about how many franchise records this Predators team has broken. With 104 points, the Predators are on pace of eclipsing the most points they’ve had in a season (110).
Now that they’ve clinched the playoffs, there’s one more step the Predators have on their regular season to-do list: Win the division.
Believe it or not, the Predators have yet to win the Central Division in their 20-year history. Who would’ve thought they’d get a Western Conference trophy before a divisional trophy? Probably no one.
The Predators are sitting atop the Central Division, a full eight points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets (96 points). There are eleven games left in the regular season, so there’s still a chance the Predators could wind up losing the division.
Those chances don’t look too good though. The Predators have yet to lose in regulation since February 17th. That means, at this point, they’ve gone a full month without losing in regulation. They are 13-0-1 in their last 14 games.
It would take a massive collapse by Nashville and a huge swing of momentum by the Jets to change anything. Although sports are unpredictable, I don’t foresee that happening.
Presidents’ Trophy (Curse?)
The Predators, for the first time in franchise history, could win the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL team with the best record at season’s end. However, some fans are kind of hoping that doesn’t happen.
That sounds a bit evil, but if Nashville finishes second in the NHL, those fans would be at ease. Why? Because it is rare for the team to win the Presidents’ Trophy to go on to win the Stanley Cup. It is so rare that, inevitably, fans believe there’s a curse attached to the trophy.
In actuality, eight Presidents’ Trophy-worthy teams have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Meaning, it is definitely possible. The last Presidents’ Trophy team to win the Stanley Cup is the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012-13.
However, with that being said, statistics show that Presidents’ Trophy-winning teams reach the finals and win more than any other seed in the playoffs.
The Predators can break the “curse.” They have probably one of the best NHL teams in recent memory in terms of depth. In a 16+ game playoff season, injuries occur and they usually hurt an NHL team. However, injuries seem to only fuel the Predators.
Stanley Cup Favorites
The Predators are leading the Central Division, Western Conference, and NHL. That means they are heavy favorites of making another run at the Stanley Cup. It definitely isn’t set in stone, because the NHL has had teams emerge from nowhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Predators could make tremendous history this season. They have never won the Central Division, Presidents’ Trophy, or the Stanley Cup. They are in prime position to win all three in one year. How cool is that?