It’s great to have Preds hockey back after a bit of a hiatus due to the All-Star break. What an incredible experience that was. I really enjoyed the new events that the NHL incorporated during the Skills Competition. I was just in Vegas, and it was neat being able to identify with where certain events were taking place. Although I am still disappointed that we are not enjoying NHL-attended Olympic hockey as of this morning, the welcoming back of NHL hockey in general will suffice.
Having passed the halfway point a few games ago, the Preds exit the All-Star break with a record of 28-14-4 through 46 games for a total of 60 points. Not only does this place them second in both the Central Division and the Western Conference, but it also puts them in similar trajectory at the same point in time as the 2017-2018 President’s Trophy winning team. Not that that season ended as we hoped, but for this team to be where it is now based on pre-season projections that the “experts… had, it’s a pretty impressive feat thus far. For all of those that want to bring up the games in hand arguments, save it. The Preds would be in first in the Pacific Division with their current record and games played AND I’d put the Preds play pre-break against any of the teams that currently have games in hand and would even argue that the Preds would come out on top more than not to make the difference in games played irrelevant. Time will test me on this comment no doubt.
Other than the Central Division getting second place in the 3-on-3 tournament, Josi getting second on the Bellagio Fountain, and Saros enjoying his first All-Star appearance, there is not much to add to the current conversation. We will kick the Forsberg, etc. conversations a month or so down the line. I sure do not envy Poile’s position in that decision.
Tonight, begins the series of makeup games due to the COVID break that occurred earlier this season, so the Preds will be in Dallas tonight to then return home to play the Jets on Saturday and the Caps on Tuesday before traveling to Carolina on the 18th and South Florida on the 22nd. That game against the Panthers will wrap up the make-up games for Nashville and get the season back on schedule with the Stars coming to town on the 24th for Pekka’s jersey retirement ceremony that Thursday prior to the Stadium Series on the 26th that Saturday.
The Preds should be a well-rested unit this month as they have no back-to-backs and only 3 road games during February.
If the second half of the season is anything like the first, then we should have a nice spring here in Nashville.
It’s now Pekka jersey retirement and Stadium Series month! Cannot wait!
Talk again soon!