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This One Hurts...

May 8, 2012, 10:50 AM ET [123 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I have to admit… in no way did I expect to be writing this column today. The Nashville Predators lost their Western Conference Semi-Final series 4 games to 1 after last night’s 2-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. It would be easy to chalk up this loss to a hot goalie… it would also be very wrong. Nashville literally got “out-Predatored” by the Coyotes in a series full of blown opportunities and critical lapses in judgment.

Give full credit to the Phoenix Coyotes, they deserved to win this series. They were the more committed, more disciplined team. Mike Smith was great when he needed to be and the Coyotes took advantage of almost every opportunity presented to them. Including the largest one of them all… the opportunity that two selfish players delivered on a silver platter.

Once again Nashville needs to glean lessons from this season, only this season, they seem to be a little bit harder to identify. Given this Predator team was supposedly built for a playoff run longer than the one it ultimately went on, it is fair to ask the question… Did the trade deadline acquisitions help or hurt this team. My take? They mostly helped, Hal Gill brought veteran stability to the blueline and brought out the best games in Roman Josi in March and April. Paul Gaustad helped the entire team in the faceoff circle and Andrei Kostitsyn showed some real promise in his work ethic until his silly foray into desert nightlife. Of course a discussion on late season adds brings the big question…

Was bringing back Alexander Radulov a good idea?

On paper, it was a no-brainer… hindsight being 20/20… you can help but wonder. It was obvious that Radulov’s game had matured, became more well rounded, but many questions remain about his overall maturity. He was maddeningly inconsistent, flashes of brilliance, periods of invisibility, great setups, missed finishes and one night of abysmally bad judgment. I think we may know less about Rads now than we thought we knew.

Lessons learned… but the biggest one not applied may end up being the one that killed their playoff chances. Come out strong in game one… the team supposedly learned that one last season, coming out flat against the Canucks and going down in six. This year was supposed to be different. A spot in the Western Conference Finals, with home ice advantage… gone.

It is a very strange, empty feeling. This is the first time in any of the Predators playoff appearances that the team didn’t end a series at home, one way or another. There is no closure, no commiseration between fans, no “see you next seasons”… it’s just over, with no John Belushi “Animal House” clip to crank up the crowd one more time.

Plenty of questions to be answered, but those are for another day… the team returns from Phoenix today, closeout day will probably be tomorrow or Thursday at the arena.

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Ron’s Diabetic Assist Dog Update

As 7am this morning, pledges stand at $5,250. We are 66% to goal… Pred Nation has been awesome in this… please keep spreading the word.

Social media is driving this effort, and the generosity has been amazing! Click on the link to contribute.

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Playoff Look

East
NYR vs. WSH – Rangers lead 3-2 – Next game is Wednesday
PHI vs. NJD – Devils lead 3-1 – Next game is tonight

West
STL vs. LAK – Kings win 4-0 – Series complete
PHX vs. NSH – Coyotes win 4-1 – Series complete

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Random Notes…

- A challenge to whoever is writing the Nashville eulogy on Puck Daddy…try to avoid the usual insults and prove you have a little more knowledge… Hee Haw references, empty building references, etc. Let’s get creative on this one and try avoiding the easy ones.

- A lot of pundits are calling Los Angeles the favorite in this WCF series. Are you kidding me? After watching the ‘Yotes squeeze the life out of first Chicago and then Nashville, you have to call Phoenix the favorite.

- What a crazy one at MSG last night, causing the Pred game to start out on CNBC before moving to NBCSN. A lot of blame being heaped on Joel Ward for taking an ill-advised high-sticking at the end of regulation that led to the power play goals that captured the game for the Rangers… but where was the Caps penalty kill?

- You have to admire Ward, he stood up in front of the media yesterday and took every question. That is one mighty classy man.

- Rumors continue to swirl about Joel Quinneville possibly going to Montreal. On behalf of the other four Central Division teams, I say… Go Joel Go! I frankly would love to have such a good coach gone from the division… to this observer, Chicago is nuts to allow him to talk to the Canadiens.

- Remember when the St. Louis Blues fired Quinneville? It took them quite a few years to recover from that ill-advised move.

- The Vancouver Canucks announced an extension for GM Mike Gillis.

- The Flyers try to avoid the Predators fate tonight as they trail New Jersey 3-1.

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On the next SlapShot Radio

While we are excited to have a show this week… it does kinda stink that we aren’t being preempted by a game six. We will be doing a thorough review of the Predators season, the good, the bad, and the ugly with members of the Preds broadcast team… please tune in at 6pm Wednesday on 102.5 the Game.

Click here to download or listen to our current or previous podcasts.

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