Hockey Tonkin’ – Righting the Ship

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Well, that week could have gone better for the Predators. After becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot, the Preds hit a little bit of a snag. We all knew they would come back down to Earth after going a ridiculous 14-0-1, but I don’t think most Preds fans would have envisioned the team crashing like they have. This is going to be a little bit of a different Hockey Tonkin’. No one wants to read recaps of the Predators losing games, so I’m going to take a look at what the team can do to get back on track.

It’s not all gloom and doom, however. The Predators are still first in the Central Division and Western Conference by five points over the Jets and lead the NHL by one point over the Lightning. Even after dropping three straight games, Nashville is sitting in a very good spot right now. Let’s hope they get this recent slump out of the way now and go on another tear like they just did. I’m still confident the Predators will get this figured out before the playoffs begin.

So how can the Predators get back to playing some winning hockey? I think the answer is actually pretty simple. The first and most obvious answer is to simply start playing with some passion again. This kind of thing can happen after a team clinches a playoff spot. After battling all season long, a team can relax a little bit. It’s human nature. I think the Preds have let off the gas a bit after clinching a playoff spot. The good news is, they recognize this. Several players have mentioned being pissed off at the recent play. I fully expect to see the Preds get back to playing with a fire very soon.

The second thing I’ve noticed, and several of you have as well, is the power play. Let’s be honest, it’s not good right now. I mentioned this on the Talking Preds podcast (go listen to it now if you haven’t yet by the way) but they seem to be content with shots from the point. There is little movement by players without the puck right now, making it incredibly easy to defend. The forwards need to be more aggressive and attack the goal instead of sitting back and letting the defense take shot after shot hoping for a rebound. The Preds are being very reactive right now instead of proactive.

The last thing that I’m going to mention comes down to simple execution. Now this could all come back to the Predators “breathing” a little bit right now, but they just seem off. Passes aren’t as crisp, the defense is hanging the goalies out to dry, and there’s a lot of miscommunication on the ice. This is when leadership steps up and rights the ship. I’m confident in players like Josi, Fisher, Ekholm, Rinne, Hartnell, and Bonino that they can bring the team together during this rough stretch. So take a deep breath Preds fans, this team knows they have to be better. They’ll get it all figured out before the playoffs roll around.

Some big games on tap this week for the Predators. First up, another division game with the Minnesota Wild. The Wild have had the Preds number this year, so look for the Predators to be extra motivated in this game. The San Jose Sharks come to town on Thursday night. They’ve been playing well lately, so the Preds will need to be on top of their game. Saturday night, the Sabres come to town and they may be just what the doctor ordered. Then, it’s a huge test as the Preds turn around on the second half of a back to back to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This could be a potential Stanley Cup preview. Only two weeks left in the season! The Playoffs are almost here!

Have you heard about the newest SoBros Network podcast, Talking Preds? You can follow us on Twitter @TalkingPreds and iTunes. Give us a listen and tell us what you think. New episodes come out about once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Oh yeah, we’re also giving away TWO PLAYOFF TICKETS in an upcoming episode, so make sure to listen every chance you can so you don’t miss out on how to enter!

Herbie Brooks is the Lead Hockey Analyst for SoBros Network. He knows three things: beating Commies, winning Gold Medals, and having great hair. Follow him on Twitter: @SoBroHerbie_B

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