While the Predators aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet… save a miraculous run and a lot of help, the playoffs are not happening. Playing out the string is something that Pred Nation is just not used to. Fighting for a playoff spot? Working to get a better seed? Those are things that Predator fans are used to, however, after making the playoffs for seven of eight seasons, for the first time since before lockout one, the Nashville Predators are going to miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons… and it kinda sucks.

Look no further than last night’s shootout loss to Colorado. Blowing a two goal lead is not fun, blowing two more leads is equally frustrating before the inevitable loss in the shootout. The positive to take out of the loss was the play of Calle Jarnkrok. The youngster extended his point streak, got significant ice time in overtime and scored the Predators only goal in the shootout, putting on a nice move and roofing a nasty one past Semyon Varlamov.

Despite all of the negativity that has surrounded this team this season there is something that needs to be said. This IS a better hockey team than last season. You can prove it statistically. Simply look at points per game and you can see that. Improvement is hard to swallow at this time of the year, but it is true. True, with a kicker… and the kicker is that improvement was shown without Pekka Rinne filling the net for 51 games. Playing woulda, coulda, shoulda ain’t fun, but with nine games to go in this season, that may be all that is left, except to enjoy the last few home games and wait through another long, hot, hockeyless spring and summer. This won’t be a popular thing to say, but this season may have been head coach Barry Trotz’s best coaching job in his 15 years behind the bench in Nashville.

The biggest problem may have been that the rest of the division and the Western Conference got better as well… a whole lot better and it became evident that Nashville simply didn’t keep up. The franchise is heading toward an offseason that may be a difficult one to augment a team that needs some pieces. The scoring help could come in a player like 28 year old Paul Stasny, a fairly consistent 20+ goals a season guy, but honestly… given the dearth of UFA’s coming this summer… his price will skyrocket the closer we get to July 1, and he’s making $6.6 million on his current contract. Thomas Vanek and Matt Moulson are also UFA’s but I would expect their current teams to make a real push to re-sign them, having just acquired these players at the trade deadline. Maybe a Mason Raymond or Jusi Jokinen or Mike Cammalleri? But as you can see… not a lot of big time snipers in that lot.

But that is discussion to be had after April 13. Until then there is hockey to be played,after the off day today, there are three games in four days for the Predators, Thursday at home against Buffalo, Friday at Dallas and Sunday at home against Washington. Some tickets remain for the two homes games.

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Random Notes

- On a personal note... thanks for your patience over the last few weeks. I haven;t been blogging much as we were deep in the throes of wedding planning as my son got married this past Saturday in an absolutely beautiful event. My wife and I are so very blessed to be adding a new member to our family. Thanks for all the well-wishes!

- Seth Jones, Paul Gaustad and Patrick Eaves are all injured. Don’t expect to see Gaustad or Jones tomorrow night against Buffalo.

- The real shame in this season has been that Shea Weber may not get his just reward as Norris Trophy winner. He has had an amazing season.

- Don’t forget that SlapShot Radio is preempted tonight for The Colin Wilson Show on 102.5 the Game. Colin will be live at Dave and Buster’s in Opry Mills with guest Victor Bartley.

- Where has home ice advantage gone? The Predators have lost seven of their last eight at Bridgestone Arena. Heck… why not break out the whites for a home game?

- Mark your calendar for Saturday May 3rd for Petey’s 5K Face-Off, the annual run/walk to support the Peterson for Parkinsons Foundation. It was a blast to do it last year so make sure to join the SlapShot Radio team for this fun event. More information is available at the PFP Website.

- Three games tonight – 6:30pm start – Canucks @ Wild. 7pm start – Flyers @Rangers. 9pm start – Ducks @ Flames.

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SlapShot Radio, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. We return for our playoff run on Wednesday April 16th.

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