Story by
Inside Nashville Predators' biggest week in rise from last place to NHL playoffs contender
- Story by
- Inside Nashville Predators' biggest week in rise from last place to NHL playoffs contender
Talk to the Nashville Predators these days and you'll hear the phrase "winning the week" a time or two.
Win the week. Then win another. Win enough weeks and you're back in the playoff push.
Advertisement
And if you haven't noticed, it's been working.
Since late November, this locker room mantra has led Nashville out of the bottom of the NHL standings. The Predators went from last place in the Western Conference on Nov. 24 to one point out of the final wild card spot on Jan. 18.
But no week of wins was more impressive than the one the Predators just pulled off.
Facing three elite teams - the Edmonton Oilers , Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights - the Predators came away with two of three wins. They also beat the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 11, giving them three wins in their last four, six points out of a possible eight.
Advertisement
"We can compete with and beat any team in this league when we're all working together," Ryan O'Reilly said after beating the Avalanche on Jan. 16. "When we're all pulling the rope together, five guys on the ice, working together and communicating, we can compete with anyone.
How the Predators 'won the week' against NHL's best
On Jan. 11, the Predators handled the Capitals, beating them 3-2 behind three points from captain Roman Josi . Considering Nashville had just lost 3-0 to the flu-stricken Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 10, it was more of a "get right" game for the Predators.
That was win No. 1.
Advertisement
Then the Oilers came into Nashville on Jan. 13 with a five-game winning streak against the Predators. Leon Draisaitl has scored 29 goals in 31 games vs Nashville, and Connor McDavid was eager to celebrate his 29th birthday with another win. Oh, and the Oilers' dads were along for the trip.
But the Predators kept McDavid from scoring and held the line until overtime. Then coach Andrew Brunette deployed a unique overtime tactic - two defensemen, one forward - that worked a charm against the speedy Oilers. Another Josi goal dispatched Edmonton 4-3.
Win No. 2.
Three days later, the Predators faced an even tougher challenge. Go into Colorado and take two points from the Avalanche, something only three teams had done this season - and none had done it in regulation.
Advertisement
Then O'Reilly, a former Avalanche draft pick, scored a hat trick in the first two periods and Nashville stunned Colorado 7-3 at Ball Arena. Juuse Saros played his best game of the season, making a season-high 39 saves.
That's win No. 3.
The final game, Vegas on Jan. 17, was a "fall back to earth" moment for Nashville. They ran out of gas against a rested Golden Knights team , losing 7-2. Vegas scored five goals in the third period to turn a routine loss into a blowout.
But the Predators were playing with house money when they rolled into Vegas. The week was already won.
How Nashville Predators became an NHL playoffs contender
Since general manager Barry Trotz said he was demanding more from his players Nov. 24, two things have changed.
Advertisement
One, the team's top players have responded. The top goal scorers the last 27 games are Steven Stamkos (17), Ryan O'Reilly (10) and Filip Forsberg (10). Brunette has deployed those three routinely on the same line and it's working. Josi, who has three goals and 10 assists in four games, has also returned to form.
Two, goaltending has been keeping them in games. Saros has seen a sizable jump in his save percentage, up to .907 from .889 earlier in the year. Justus Annunen is looking more like the backup we saw last season. He has a .905 save percentage and a 3-3 record over his last six games.
ESTES: Nashville Predators can only win the hard way – and they are
SELLERS? Why Nashville Predators might not be sellers this season
Advertisement
Next up, the Predators host the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 20 (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1 . Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds .
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Nashville Predators went from last place to NHL playoffs contender
