Barry Trotz watched his Nashville Predators lose at home 9-2, their second straight loss and third poor performance in a row, and he decided they shouldn’t go to see U2 perform at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Trotz discussed it with coach Andrew Brunette, called captain Roman Josi to inform him that the trip to Vegas was canceled, and made the decision because the team’s play wasn’t good enough. “We decided it wasn’t acceptable and made the call to come back,” Trotz said.
They didn’t get to see the show, but the Predators have been on a winning streak since then. They’ve gone 16-0-2 in their last 18 games, the longest streak in franchise history or in the NHL this season. This streak has improved Nashville’s playoff chances after being on the bubble for several months.
“We’ve seen a group that’s come together and committed to playing consistently,” Trotz said. “They’ve played well and stayed focused, preparing to win every game.”
Their latest achievement was coming back from a three-goal deficit and winning in overtime against the Vegas Golden Knights, the defending Stanley Cup champions. “We never give up,” forward Gustav Nyquist said. “This team believes in ourselves.”
That belief is justified by Nashville’s performance, scoring more than four goals a game and allowing fewer than two during this run. Their power play is effective at 24%, and the penalty kill is over 84%. “Our confidence is high,” winger Filip Forsberg said. “We keep working hard and wearing teams down.”
Leading the way is Josi, who scored the overtime winner against Vegas, earning 24 points in the past 18 games and getting MVP consideration. Forsberg believes Josi should be considered for both the Hart Trophy and the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman.
Brunette emphasized that Josi is crucial for the team’s success. “We’re lucky to have him,” Brunette said. “He carries our team.” Goalie Juuse Saros also deserves recognition, with a 1.92 goals-against average and .932 save percentage during this streak. Trotz praised both Saros and backup Kevin Lankinen for their contributions.
“They’ve made crucial saves and been reliable,” Trotz said. “When things get tough, they’ve stepped up.”
The Predators now have 94 points, just four behind the third-place Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division, a significant improvement since the streak began. However, with the playoffs approaching, players know there’s still work to do.
“We still have a lot of hockey left: 10 games and plenty of points,” Nyquist said. “We’re in a good position, but we’re not in the playoffs yet, so there’s more work ahead.”
