Following a 5-2 home win against Colorado on February 24th, The Nashville Predators were a league best 41-13-7. Even more amazing. the Predators had lost just three home games in regulation and one additional game in a shootout. They were on top of the entire NHL with 89 points and looked like a lock for the Central Division crown.
Fast forward to today. Nashville has lost their last six games, all in regulation including four at home, and has slipped to third in the race for the President's Trophy and they hold just a two point lead on second place St. Louis in the division.
Pekka Rinne, once the frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy and a strong candidate for the Hart Trophy, has lost his last five starts and seven of his last eight. The Predators netminder paced league all season in wins until last week when he was caught and passed by Carey Price.
Rinne has given up 19 goals in the five losses for an average of just under four per game. For most of the season teams were lucky to sniff three goals against the All Star.
The team as whole is going through a scoring slump as well. They have 2 goals or less in seven of the last ten games. It is no surprise that the team is 2-7-1 over that stretch.
The Predators are a good team and will most likely make the playoffs. One has to wonder how deep a run will they make. Prior to the losing streak, they were in the conversation of a finals team. Right now, they maybe not so much.
Playoff Push
The race is on. Every team in the league has fewer than 20 games remaining on their schedules and playoff berths are at stake. The final month of the regular season is upon us.
It will be an interesting and exciting finish. Every division is still up for grabs, although the Ducks do have a 13 point lead in the Pacific. The wild card spots are also far from being decided.
The emergence of the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames have put perennial playoff participant San Jose and defending champion Los Angeles on the outside looking in. The Flames are two points ahead of the Kings for the final automatic spot in the Pacific while Winnipeg is three points ahead in the final wild card spot.
The Central Division is up for grabs. St. Louis and Nashville are separated by just points with Chicago lurking just five back. Minnesota has fought their way back into the top wild card spot by virtue of a recent 8-2-0 run. The Wild have an outside shot at a automatic berth. They currently sit five points behind the Blackhawks.
In the East it is anyone's guess. Montreal and Tampa Bay have been back and forth all season for the Atlantic Division crown. The Canadiens have a two point lead on the Lightning plus a game in hand.
In the Metropolitan Division, The Rangers and Islanders are neck and neck as we approach the finish line. The Islanders are one point ahead but the Rangers have three games in hand on the boys from Long Island.
With two wins this past weekend, Boston has been able to open up some space in the race for the final wild card spot. The Bruins now sit four points ahead of Florida and five ahead of Ottawa.
League Leaders through 3/8/15
Goals – Ovechkin (44)
Assists – Backstrom (51)
Points – Tavares (70)
Plus/Minus – Pacioretty (+37)
Wins – Price (37)
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
