Nashville Predators lock up 6th playoff berth in 7 seasons

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 8, 2011 10:36 PM EDT in Nashville Predators News

With tonight's 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets (their 17th straight win over the Blue Jackets on home ice), the Nashville Predators guaranteed their 6th playoff appearance in the last 7 seasons. With 99 points and 1 more game left to play tomorrow at St. Louis, they have a chance to top the 100-point mark for the 4th time in 6 seasons, as well.

The Western Conference standings will surely remain unsettled until the final games of the regular season conclude on Sunday, however. Any position from 4th all the way down to 8th still remains a possibility at this point, but two games worth watching as this evening progresses have the Phoenix Coyotes hosting San Jose, and the Anaheim Ducks hosting the Los Angeles Kings. If the Ducks and Sharks triumph tonight, the Preds will hold onto 4th place for at least one night, and have the inside track towards earning home ice advantage in the first round.

The full game recap will come along later this evening, but for now, we can look ahead to playoff hockey once again here in Nashville!

So I'm going to toss a question out for you to consider - which individual player do you expect to step forward in these 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs? Obviously the team has a major goal on the table, pushing past the first round and making a deep run, but which single Pred do you think will thrive in that spotlight?

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Comments

#35

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Apr 8, 2011 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

#11

Why not, he did it last year.

by jerseypredsfan on Apr 8, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

Expect to step forward? #35.

Need to step forward? #12.

"Nothing." - Tuukka Rask, after being asked what he saw on Shea Weber's game winner in overtime.

by Chris Burton on Apr 8, 2011 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

#74

He’s a sneaky little Belarusian.

by rusherman on Apr 8, 2011 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

It's gotta be Pekka!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Apr 8, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

#11...

and #10 needs to follow in his wake

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 8, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Since #35 steps up every single game playoff or not...

I expect #12 to step up and show his leadership and experience in the playoffs.

WAY TO GO PREDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by HardCorePredFan316 on Apr 8, 2011 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

I have to say, #55 really was looking good tonight. Playing the man, not falling back.

I’m thinking Horny is going to make up that missing element from last year’s playoffs.

by DonBorvio on Apr 8, 2011 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

until the final games of the regular season conclude on Monday<\blockquote>

I thought things wrapped up Sunday?

"I don't know who this 'J.R. Lind' is." -- George Plaster
Inventor of the AMTWBC meme
Proud member of The Frozen Chosen
The Velvet Hammer

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Apr 8, 2011 11:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Blarg. HTML fail. You’d think I’d be better at that.

"I don't know who this 'J.R. Lind' is." -- George Plaster
Inventor of the AMTWBC meme
Proud member of The Frozen Chosen
The Velvet Hammer

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Apr 8, 2011 11:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Doofus me

I had it as Sunday at first, then went back and mistakenly “corrected” it. I’ll switch it back.

Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter, or join our site on Facebook!

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 8, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Watch with the name calling!

Ha!

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Apr 9, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Hornqvist is coming on....

it helps that Fisher is finally buzzing and Kostitsytn is finding space. As good and and as valuable as the Legwand llne has been, if Horny-Tits get going, this team is very dangerous. Hope they stay on the same line, even if Erat comes back.

by brotherau on Apr 8, 2011 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

HQ/Fish/Tits

has been a line for a while now…why would you suddenly throw Erat into that mix when he’s been having his own success with Leggy and Ward? Makes no sense…

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 8, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Erat is with Ward and Leggy...

No need to worry about SK74/Fisher/Hornqvist getting split up. Unless Trotz wants a riot on his hands.

by HardCorePredFan316 on Apr 8, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Fisher has points in 6 straight, Kostitsyn points in 11 straight, and Hornqvist has 13 points in 10 games. That’s a line, folks.

"Nothing." - Tuukka Rask, after being asked what he saw on Shea Weber's game winner in overtime.

by Chris Burton on Apr 9, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I bet...

even though most will never admit it, Vancouver fans are secretly thanking the hockey gods that they dodged the bullet that is the Nashville Predators in the first round. This makes me smile just to think about it…not that I really wanted to play the Nucks anyway, just that they REALLY did not want to play us.

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 8, 2011 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

I tend to doubt that the Canucks are really afraid to play anyone, though the Hawks have caused them nightmares 2 years in a row. I just rather not face them in the 1st round, thank you! :)

by Grizzledbear on Apr 9, 2011 2:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed

The Blackhawks are their big worry. And might be again this year!

by DontfeedtheBelak on Apr 9, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

IT MUST BE

pekka. if its not him it wont matter what anyone else does. hope erat breaks his cycle. he always gets hurt when playing well then takes a month after returning to be good again.

by predswilrule on Apr 8, 2011 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t care who steps up, I’m just sick and tired of the complacency. Screw the first round, why can’t they win the whole frickin’ thing?

"Nothing." - Tuukka Rask, after being asked what he saw on Shea Weber's game winner in overtime.

by Chris Burton on Apr 9, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

abso-frickin-lutely! To the Cup!!

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 9, 2011 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

It's a final!

LA loses! Thanks Selanne!

by Lil cutie on Apr 9, 2011 12:36 AM EDT reply actions

#15

wait, what? He hasn’t been cleared for stepping yet? damn

I'm sent here by the chosen one

by Creeping Death on Apr 9, 2011 1:02 AM EDT reply actions

¿who?

oh, yeah, the mysterious Lombardi guy…

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Apr 9, 2011 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions

It's Rinne or bust!

If Rinne plays the way he has for most of the season, we can win, but if he levels off a bit, we be in deep doo doo. Can SK74 keep producing once the playoff level intensity kicks in is another key thing for us. And will our 2nd line produce or not will be big as well. But keep the lineup as it is (with Erat back in and Sully out), no need to change what got us this far.

by Grizzledbear on Apr 9, 2011 2:31 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

#16

scratch #26 and #71

and make the fourth line #33-#16-#5

by Daniel_Ackerman on Apr 9, 2011 4:35 AM EDT reply actions

Two centers on that line? When Geoffrion has never played an NHL game on wing and O’Reilly is in no way a winger? In theory, it would be good, but not going into the playoffs without any practice. Plus, what happens to Halischuk when Erat comes back? He would be the odd man out and that can’t happen to one of our hottest players.

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 9, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

for now

Halischuck stays with Toots and Smithers. He is really clicking there. The only center that O’Reilly could possibly come in for would be Geoffrion, unless you think that Trotz would decide it’s a good idea to let Legwand have the night off. I don’t see that being tonight.

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on Apr 9, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions