There’s a fascinating little nugget in John Glennon’s regular offseason Monday morning Predator story in the Tennessean. He quotes Predators associate coach Brent Peterson saying “we have to get back to being a hard-working team.”

Amen.

Last season’s Predators were a Sybil-like bunch, showing two distinct personalities. The work ethic that has been a hallmark of this team was missing until almost mid-season, which, in hindsight, was exactly too late to turn the season around. The second half of the season showed the kind of hard working, never say die attitude that Pred Nation was accustomed to. The first half... well... wasn't.

Peterson is also quoted in the same article as saying “we have to get it right from the start and play 82 games like the Predators play.” Yup… as we learned last season, this team’s margin for error is small, every point will be critical.

Don’t believe that? Go back to…

> The Calgary game in October – The Predators go into the third period with a 3-1 lead, give four unanswered goals in third period and lose 5-3.

>The Minnesota game on Thanksgiving weekend – One simple stat… FIVE power play goals.

> St. Louis in December – Preds go into the third tied at three… and fall apart at the end, giving up two goals in less than a minute, and an empty netter to boot to lose 6-3


There’s just three examples of work ethic costing the team points in the first half of the season. Let’s just assume that maybe… just maybe… the team delivers the work ethic they are known for in those games and get the wins… The Predators finish with 94 points and get the 6 seed in the playoffs.

Coach Peterson is dead on the mark… this team has to get to work from jump street.

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Countdown to Training Camp… 47 days to go!

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