What Went Wrong: Predators Out in Six Games

You know, I was pretty happy when the Nashville Predators qualified for this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. I still remember their surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2017, getting there as the lower of the Western Conference's Wild Cards. Since then, the playoff appearances came, but advancement didn't, and the worst of it came in 2022, when they were dominated and swept by the eventual champion Colorado Avalanche.

A year later, the Predators actually missed the playoffs, and that resulted in the firing of John Hynes as head coach. Enter Andrew Brunette. Welcome back Barry Trotz, the team's first ever coach, to the front office. And don't forget the icing on the cake: an 18-game points streak late in the season. All of these factors led Nashville back to the playoffs after a one-season layoff. Their opponents: a high-powered Vancouver Canucks team loaded with players. However, there is a shocking development after Game One: while Vancouver did win, they lost goalie Thatcher Demko (who is up for the Vezina) indefinitely.

Many saw this as Nashville's opportunity for an upset. After all, they did win Game Two to even things up. But when it came to the home games, the Preds just couldn't do it. Lost to Casey DeSmith despite outshooting Vancouer big time. Blew a 3-1 lead in less than three minutes. And after taking Game Five, they were blanked in Game Six at home. So yeah, the Preds lost this, but given the circumstances, they could have won this series.

So what went wrong? Actually, it's not what went wrong, it's who.

The obvious culprit in this loss has to be Colton Sissons. I mentioned Game Four earlier. The Preds were up 3-1 late. Quite late. Canucks pulled the goalie, and Brock Boeser made it a one-goal game--scoring his second goal of the game. Canucks pulled the goalie again, and the Preds actually had a chance to ice it. It was Sissons who had the shot at the empty net, and he shot it...and it hit the post. Oh boy. Canucks regained possession, they scrambled, and Boeser tied it with seven seconds left. Overtime was short; Elias Lindholm won it in 62 seconds. So yeah, Sissons blew it, and he needed points--he only had one all series. That one went in the net, ironically with a goalie in it.

Seriously, how is Roman Josi up for the Norris this year? Granted, playoff performances (or lack thereof) have nothing to do with these trophies, but boy, did Josi pull off a disappearing act yet again. Three points. That's all he had. A goal and two helpers. Granted, the goal he had was a clutch one in Game Five, but still, three points in six games. In 2022, he had two points in four games. Absolute peanuts. The points leader this season was Filip Forsberg with six (2 G/4 A), a big improvement from 2022, which only saw him with just one point. Regarding goaltending, Juuse Saros definitely did his part. A .900 SV% and a 2.01 GAA. The offense definitely wasn't there for him.

The Predators playoff run may have been very short-lived, but they did hang in there with a high powered Canucks team, so there's that. In addition, Andrew Brunette is an Adams finalist this season as a result of the Preds' performance, so there's that. Can the Predators build off this appearance and their performance? Next season will tell the tale.

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