It takes four wins to win a series, It takes four wins to win a series, It takes four wins to win a series, It takes four wins to win a series, It takes four wins to win a series, It takes four wins to win a series,…
Pred Nation has been repeating that mantra since about 12:30am Tuesday morning.
This extra day between games is exquisite torture; for Blackhawk fans, the Damoclean sword of a 0-3 hole hanging above their heads has that fanbase in an unfamiliar and very uncomfortable place. For Predator fans, it’s a combination; imagine an extended Christmas Eve… you know Santa is going to come and that is exciting… but you really aren’t sure if you did enough in the last week or so to pull out a spot on the good list. Delicious, exquisite, tourture… made worse by Neil Freakin’ Diamond playing Bridgestone Arena tonight and delaying game 4!
So… Pred Nation… as we impatiently wait for puck drop tomorrow night, let’s look at some reasons for confidence going into tomorrow night… and one reason to be concerned…
Nashville as a team has crossed a series of thresholds over the past 12+ months that are important to a deep run in the playoffs;
- Two game sevens – up until last season… Nashville had never played a game seven… the fact that they split the experience; winning one and completely defecating the bedclothes in the other will be valuable as the team proceeds.
- Game 3 – I cannot underestimate the impact of Monday night’s win on this team. Knowing that they have that kind of comeback in them should give them the confidence heading into game four, or five, or six.
- Overtime – While this is still a regular season bugaboo… this team seems to have solved its overtime issues in the playoffs, winning their last three forays into sudden death including last year’s triple overtime thriller…
- Most importantly, this team is focused on the job at hand. They are not looking ahead, they are not celebrating minor milestones beyond the congrats on the ice… the postgame quotes are laser focused on the next step. That mentality is one that has been missing in previous teams.
So those are real positives for a team looking to make a real run… look at past champions, they had the kind of experiences and attitudes that I just described before going deep… but there is reason for trepidation Pred Nation, a reason to be concerned…
The Chicago Blackhawks have those types of experiences and more to draw on. They have made comebacks, they have driven a series where they were behind 0-3 to seven games. Just ask ‘em… they have three Cups worth of experience… Teams with this type of championship resume are dangerous when that resume and that legacy is threatened.
And that resume and legacy is under severe threat right now. Being swept by the Nashville Predators is nowhere near their radar. This team’s pride is on the line and they will bring it hard tomorrow night.
This series ain’t over… not by a long shot… and if the Nashville Predators waltz into Bridgestone Arena thinking it is, then this series heads back to Chicago for a game five.
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So… to kill some time tonight, tune in to 102.5 the Game for lots of hockey talk… SlapShot Radio is up at 7pm. Pete and I will welcome Blackhawks radio voice, John Weideman, Edmonton Oilers radio voice Jack Michaels and ESPN hockey man, former NHL coach Barry Melrose. Pete Weber and me will get you ready for Thursday night’s Game 4 in Smashville like no one else in Music CIty.
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Playoff Status
Eastern Conference
Washington vs. Toronto – TOR leads 2-1 – Game 4 – tonight in Toronto
Montreal vs. New York – Series tied 2-2 – Game 5 – tomorrow night in New York
Ottawa vs. Boston – OTT leads 2-1 – Game 4 – tonight in Boston
Pittsburgh vs. Columbus – PIT leads 3-1 – Game 5 – tomorrow night in Pittsburgh
Western Conference
Chicago vs. Nashville – NSH leads 3-0 – Game 4 tomorrow night in Nashville
Anaheim vs. Calgary – ANA leads 3-0 – Game 4 – tonight in Calgary
Minnesota vs. St. Louis – STL leads 3-0 – Game 4 – tonight in St. Louis
Edmonton vs. San Jose – Series tied 2-2 – Game 5 – tomorrow night in Edmonton
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Playoff Random Notes
- Complaints about officiating are coming hard and heavy… Not much different than other playoff seasons I have seen…
- You have to give Logan Couture credit… he potted two in San Jose’s 7-0 win over Edmonton, knotting that series. Couture is dealing with an incredibly painful facial injury and brought it like a gladiator last night.
- Two closeout potentials tonight… Anaheim can sweep the Flames in Calgary and St. Louis can put the Minnesota Wild out of their misery at Scottrade Center.
- Well… Pittsburgh couldn’t close it out last night as Columbus hung on for a 5-4 win to send the series back to the Steel City for game 5.
- I find it really ironic that the two best skaters in the Montreal – New York series are both ex-Predators.
- Four games in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight, all times CST – 6pm – WSH @ TOR (NBCSN). 6:30pm – OTT @ BOS (USA). 8:30pm – MIN @ STL (NBCSN) 9pm – ANA @ CGY (USA).
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