The Predators concluded the regular season Saturday in a 3-2 loss to the Stars. Now they turn their attention to the upcoming playoffs.
“I was really happy with our effort,” said Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, who scored Nashville’s first goal 19 seconds into the first period. “We were obviously missing some guys, but a lot of guys stepped up, played really well. That’s a team that just won our conference and we had them right down to the wire, so I’m really proud of the guys.”
Playing without five regulars — captain Shea Weber, defenseman Roman Josi, goaltender Pekka Rinne and forwards Mike Fisher and Mike Ribeiro — the Predators capably challenged the full-strength Stars, who won the Central Division and clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, awarding them home-ice advantage throughout the Western portion of the playoffs.
Nashville led 2-0 midway through the second period, but Stars forward Jason Spezza scored two of his three goals within a three-minute span to tie the game entering the third period. With one minute left, Spezza completed the hat trick, scoring the game-winning goal with a shot from the high slot.
“I thought we played a real strong game, so that was good,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought it was good games down the stretch here that (we) played well and played the game the way it needs to be played. We did a lot of good things tonight. Unfortunate at the end, it’s a real tough ending, but if you’re looking at the performance right now, which I think is important going into the playoffs, I thought guys played really hard tonight, did some good things.”
Who will the Predators play? The Kings had a chance to win the Pacific Division Saturday and set up a first-round matchup with Nashville, but they blew a three-goal lead and lost 4-3 to Winnipeg in a shootout.
The regular season ends on Sunday. If Anaheim beats Washington, the Predators will play the Ducks in the first round. Any other result means the Predators will play the Kings.
To field a full roster for Saturday’s game, the Predators recalled goaltender Marek Mazanec from the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League to back up Carter Hutton and defenseman Corey Potter, who made his Predators debut by playing 14:44 after being acquired from the Coyotes at the trade deadline in February.
“I really like the way we played,” Laviolette said. “Chances were in our favor, shots were in our favor, did a lot of good things out there tonight. Scoreboard not in our favor, so that’s the disappointing thing about it. But as far as effort goes and what the guys brought to the ice tonight, I really liked it.”
The Predators had four players appear in all 82 games this season: forwards Filip Forsberg, James Neal and Craig Smith and defenseman Mattias Ekholm. Josi and Ribeiro would’ve joined them if they hadn’t been held out Saturday. Forsberg and Smith also played in all 82 games last season.
Forsberg finished this season with a team-high 33 goals, tied with forward Jason Arnott for the most in a single season in Predators history.
