For Real?

Are the Predators for real?  The team’s fans are starting to ask that question.  They want to believe.  Should they?  Even that curmudgeon Felder’s easing up (just kidding Brandon).  For me, I need to define “for real” first.  Does “for real” mean making the playoffs?  Absolutely, they are for real then.  They have the talent, management and coaching to do that.  Of course, I’ve always thought they would make the playoffs.  Clear the first round?  Maybe, but they still have a few things to improve upon.  Fortunately, I believe they have the talent, management and coaching to do that as well.

Penalty Kill

You know, there’s not much to say here.  You don’t have to know anything about hockey to know that the current trend of allowing two power play goals a game isn’t playing with fire, it’s playing with matches while standing over a natural gas leak.

Increase Blueline Production

Nashville’s blueline has to get many more of their shots on net.  They’ve been off the score sheet too much as well.  While both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are in the top 30 scoring defensemen across the league, they significantly trail their talent-level peers like Mike Green, Dan Boyle, and Tomas Kaberle.  If they could get those pucks on net, their assists should naturally go up.

Wait Until the Postseason to Shorten the Bench

Particularly this season with the compressed schedule, it is especially important to consistently roll four lines and not have the top six consistently achieving 20+ minutes a night.  A way has to be found to split those minutes up.  If that means playing the rookies more, then so be it.  If we don’t I’m afraid there won’t be a second gear available in the postseason.

The Hamhuis-Klein Pairing

This is so vexing for two reasons.  On paper, they should be a really good combination, but in reality, they are anything but.  The most confusing thing to me is why the staff went back to that pairing.  It didn’t work before and really isn’t working now.  I just don’t see the chemistry.

In the Moment

While there may be several things this team can do to both get better now and for the postseason, there’s no reason to not enjoy their current play.

Barry Trotz has the guys playing well essentially from A to Z on the roster.  Patric Hornqvist and Ryan Jones are providing him with options both at even strength and with the man advantage.  Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis are both playing well enough.  The current line combinations are providing enough depth scoring to make keying in on the Sullivan-Arnott-Erat line dangerous, and that line is making it dangerous for the opposition to not attempt to focus on shutting it down.

If they keep their focus, and continue to improve those problem areas, there’s no reason to not believe that this team is “for real”.

You can find great takes on last night’s win from Mark and Dirk.