The Nashville Predators host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in both teams’ first game since a two-week break, but the clubs are looking at the final two months of the season in vastly different ways.
The Predators started the season with high hopes for the postseason after signing several veterans, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos, over the summer. However, instead of contending in the Western Conference, the Predators are 18 points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the conference’s final wild-card spot.
Nashville general manager Barry Trotz told The Tennessean on Friday that he already has made calls to teams to discuss deals that would return draft picks and prospects ahead of the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline.
Before the NHL regular season was paused for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Nashville won its last game, a 6-4 triumph over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 8. However, the Predators lost six straight before that to bury them in the standings.
“The season just unraveled on us, and we couldn’t get it back on the rails,” Trotz told the Nashville newspaper.
The start of the unofficial second half of the season also did not get off to a great start for the Predators, who announced Friday that defenseman Adam Wilsby would miss the rest of the season with an upper-body injury. The team put the Swedish rookie and first-year forward Zachary L’Heureux on injured reserve. L’Heureux, who also has an upper-body ailment, is considered week-to-week.
Despite the Predators’ struggles this season, the team still had several representatives playing during the midseason event. Forward Filip Forsberg, who leads the team with 53 points, played in all three of Sweden’s games, as did forward Gustav Nyquist, who scored a goal for the national team.
Nashville goalie Juuse Saros, whose 23 losses lead the NHL, played in two games for Finland. He registered a 3.96 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage.
Colorado returns to the ice in possession of the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 68 points. The Avalanche stand just two points back of the Minnesota Wild for third place in the Central Division.
A trio of Avalanche skaters played key roles for 4 Nations winner Canada. Nathan McKinnon, whose 66 assists and 87 points lead the NHL, scored a tournament-best four goals in Canada’s four games. Defensemen Cale Makar and Devin Toews also helped the Canadians win the Thursday finale.
Makar’s lone assist in the tournament came on Connor McDavid’s golden goal in overtime.
While the trio were busy over the past two weeks, many of their teammates got a chance to rest and recharge over the break. Coach Jared Bednar held practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and he told Colorado Hockey Now that he was especially pleased with the Friday session because of the enthusiasm the players showed.
Prior to the tournament, the Avalanche won four out of their last five games. McKinnon scored a goal and registered three assists while Makar added two goals and an assist in Colorado’s 5-4 road win over the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 7.
“So it’s a good sign coming into this week, and hopefully we continue to play with that energy and enthusiasm here going to Nashville,” Bednar said.
