Fansided

NHL playoffs 2017: Nashville Predators preview

By Dave Stevenson

Feb 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators players celebrate after a win against the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators players celebrate after a win against the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

How far will the Nashville Predators go in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The city of Nashville has fully embraced hockey. It was put on display for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game and it delighted. Now the Nashville Predators are ready to make their third Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance in as many seasons.

Entering the season as a popular pick to win the Central Division, they took a while to get going. From October to December, the Predators had just 38 points in 36 games. However, in 2017, Nashville has 56 points in 45 games. The addition of P.K. Subban to their blue line has given them a new energy. He’s been everything he was advertised to be with 40 points in 65 games. 16 of his points have come on the power play.

After putting up just eight goals in 36 games in 2016, Filip Forsberg has turned the corner in 2017. He has 23 goals and 35 points in 45 games this calendar year. Getting Forsberg going is key to their Stanley Cup hopes. He has shown he can huge in the playoffs during his career, netting a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks two years ago. However, Forsberg was mostly invisible last year in the postseason with just four points in 14 games.

Why They Can Win

The Predators have one of the most productive blue lines in the NHL. Ryan Ellis, Subban, Mattias Ekholm, and Roman Josi each put up over 20 points. The quartet of blue liners get a ton of playing time, as each of them averages over 23 minutes of ice time per game. Few teams can match up against their defensemen, which could be a huge advantage for them. Matt Irwin provides solid defensive depth. He’s largely been an after thought after being bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he’s quietly given them solid minutes at a dirt cheap price.

Their forwards have been heating up as of late, which is a very good sign. They’ll have to be at the top of their game for the Predators to have a real chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Also, Pekka Rinne has a .931 save percentage since the start of March. He has gone through some struggles this year, but it’s great to see him playing go so well going into the postseason.

Why They Won’t Win

The Nashville Predators Stanley Cup chances aren’t too good because they’ll have to face the Chicago Blackhawks. They’ve haunted the Preds in the past and until they can show they can overcome them, they’ll have to answer questions about it. Nashville won just one of their five meetings against the Blackhawks this season, allowing 20 goals and scoring just 13.

Rinne is looking great going into the postseason, but his inconsistency remains a huge concern. Can he keep playing the way he has been? Rinne’s career save percentage in the postseason is .912. In his last two playoffs, his save percentages have been .907 and .906. Rinne will have to square off against some of the best offenses in the NHL, so this is a huge concern moving forward.

However, their biggest weakness is they can’t win away from home. At home this season, the Predators have a 24-9-8 record. However, on the road, they have a 17-19-4 record. That simply isn’t good enough for them to win the Stanley Cup, especially since they won’t have home ice advantage.

X-Factor

The Nashville Predators have a secret weapon. He goes by the name Viktor Arvidsson. After emerging last season as a postseason hero with a game winning goal over the San Jose Sharks, he’s having a breakout year. Arvidsson earned a second line role with the Predators. With it came a huge increase in minutes. After averaging just over 12 minutes per game in 2015-16, he averages over 17 minutes a game this season.

Arvidsson has a career high 31 goals, 30 assists and 61 points this season. Before this season, he had 16 points in 62 games. Arvidsson might be the best chance at beating teams like the Blackhawks, Wild and whoever comes out of the Pacific Division. The Predators forwards don’t have much elite talent, but Arvidsson is proving he could be an elite scorer.

Must Read: NHL Mock Expansion Draft: Golden Knights Get Joe Thornton

Prediction

The Predators face a tough road in the postseason. They’ll have to overcome their biggest foe in the Blackhawks. After that, they’ll either have to face the Wild or the Blues, both of whom have given them trouble in the past. The Nashville Predators dug themselves into an early hole and now they’re paying for it.