Pay attention to the Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are the best team in the National Hockey League. With a record of 29-9-4 and 62 points, Nashville is staking its claim as the favorite to come out of the stacked Western Conference.
At the beginning of the season, many pundits believed the Chicago Blackhawks and defending Stanley Cup-champion Los Angeles Kings would fight for a spot in the Finals. Instead, it is the under-the-radar Predators holding the No. 1 seed currently, four points clear of the second-place Blackhawks in the Central Division.
Currently, the Predators have the fifth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup on BOVADA at 12/1, behind the Blackhawks (5/1), Anaheim Ducks (15/2), Boston Bruins (10/1) and St. Louis Blues (10/1).
Nashville has one of the best rosters in the NHL. Goaltender Pekka Rinne is a former Vezina Trophy finalist and at 32 years old, seems primed once more to be in that conversation. Rinne has a league-leading 29 wins with a 1.96 goals against average (2nd in NHL) and a .931 save percentage (2nd). The Finnish goaltender did suffer a lower-body injury on Tuesday night in a win over the Vancouver Canucks, but it is not expected to be serious.
With Rinne as the backstop behind a defense corps. featuring three-time Norris Trophy finalist Shea Weber, 2013 fourth-overall pick Seth Jones and Roman Josi, Nashville is the top defensive team in the league. The Predators are allowing 2.2 goals per game and play a physical brand in their own end, leading to major success.
Offensively, head coach Peter Laviolette’s group has depth but is without a star. If you go down the list of points leaders across the NHL, you will not find anybody on Nashville until 17th with Filip Forsberg. Forsberg is one of the most unheralded players in hockey but gives the Predators a solid top-six forward. The 20-year-old is simply scratching the surface of his talent, racking up 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) in 42 games as a rookie. Certainly, Forsberg will be in the Calder Trophy conversation when the season ends.
Along with Forsberg, the Predators have veterans in Mike Ribeiro, James Neal, Colin Wilson, Craig Smith and Mike Fisher to provide depth and support. Fisher is a terrific two-way player and has been throughout his 14-year career. Ribeiro, Neal and Wilson provide additional scoring punch, helping to give Nashville a trio of solid lines. In the postseason, the Predators will be tough to matchup against because of this depth.
With half the season remaining, plenty can change. However, Nashville appears built for a long run. Even in this age of increased scoring, hockey remains a game won and lost by goaltending and defense. Rinne gives the Predators a major advantage and his cast along the blue-line matches up with anybody.
Nashville, a franchise that came into existence in 1998, could win its first division title. After missing the playoffs each of the last two seasons, the Predators are also a smart bet to reach the conference finals for the first time, and perhaps go further than that.
