Nashville Predators: Anything can happen during the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Anything can happen during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Just ask the Nashville Predators about the last two times they were in the playoffs.

The Nashville Predators earned their fifth straight Stanley Cup Playoffs berth on Monday night, beating the Minnesota Wild, 1-0, thanks to a stellar night in goal from Juuse Saros.

With this playoff berth, it is the Predators 12th playoff appearance in the last 15 years, which is very impressive considering they didn’t make the playoffs in their first five years of existence.

Judging this season

To many Predators fans, this season has been much of a disappointment, and I completely understand that point. At times throughout the season, the Nashville Predators have put out mediocre play and there’s no way around that. They have also dealt with a great number of injuries throughout the year, which can definitely take a toll on the team. Sitting at the 92 point mark and a 43-28-6 record with all the things the Predators have had to deal with, I’d say that’s a pretty impressive mark.

One thing that is alarming currently for Predators fans is their struggles against the St. Louis Blues. The Blues and Predators will more than likely face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Currently this season, the Predators have a 1-3-1 record against the Blues, including four straight losses. During that four-game losing streak, the Predators have been outscored 16-8.

At times though, they’ve also looked like one of the best teams in the league when they are fully healthy. They’ve strung together two five-game winning streaks. They’ve also boasted a great record against some of the best teams in hockey. The Predators have handed the Tampa Bay Lightning two of their 14 regulation losses. They are also 2-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens, and the New York Islanders. They also have a 2-1 record against the Vegas Golden Knights and a 1-1 against the Boston Bruins.

Overall, the Predators are an outstanding 11-3-1 against teams that are currently sitting in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, the Predators are in the Western Conference and will only get the chance to face an Eastern Conference opponent if they make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Last 2 seasons are prime examples

It’s an interesting saying, but it’s true. “Anything can happen in the playoffs.” A prime example is college basketball’s March Madness. No matter the seeding of a team, each team has a chance to compete in that game and pull off an upset. UMBC is a great example. They knocked off No. 1 seed Virginia last season, becoming the first ever No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the history of Men’s College Basketball. Not only did they beat them, but they blew out one of the best teams in basketball.

The Nashville Predators can somewhat relate to that upset. Two seasons ago, the “No. 8 seed” Predators beat the “No. 1 seed” Chicago Blackhawks. Not only did the Predators beat the top team in the Western Conference, but they swept them in four games on their way to the Predators first ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Keep in mind, no one expected the Predators, a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs, to sweep the Blackhawks, especially ESPN, considering all of their beat writers projected the Blackhawks to win that series.

Last season, the Predators looked like the best hockey team in the NHL for the great majority of the season, posting their best record in franchise history. They boasted a 53-18-11 record and 117 points on their way to the franchise’s first President’s Trophy. Once the playoffs rolled around, the Predators looked sloppy at times against the Colorado Avalanche, but they squeaked out a series win, putting them in the second round against a very good Winnipeg Jets team. The Predators took that series to seven games but ultimately lost to the Jets after a disappointing Game 7 performance. To be fair, the Predators had a very tough draw in the second round, facing the Jets who boasted the second best record in the NHL last season, which is something I have a problem with pertaining the NHL’s playoff system. Overall though, the Predators had no excuse for putting a different team on the ice for each game of that series against the Jets, with all four losses being by three or more goals.

To summarize, in the last two years, the Predators have had a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs make an outstanding run to the Stanley Cup Finals and a team that won the Central Division, the Western Conference, and the President’s Trophy gets put out disappointingly in the second round. What to make out of this is simply that you have no clue what a team will do once the playoffs roll around despite the product they put out during the regular season. For all the Predators fans freaking out about the “disappointing” season the Predators are currently having, take a deep breath. Anything can happen in the playoffs.