by Zachary Harmuth
It took a shoot out but the Preds still lost to division and wildcard rival Dallas 3-2 on Tuesday night.
This eliminates the Preds from the playoffs absolutely, though it would be hard for anyone to claim the ice hasn’t been melting for a while now.
Two losses in the last two weeks to Dallas did it. Or maybe season-long lack of offense, disappointing defense and a merry-go-round at goalie did it. Pick your poison.
Speaking of poison you will find no more in this story, for two very good reasons:
1. Our offices can be quite easily found by any Predator player angered by what some pipsqueak like me says about them (and trust me, they are all much, much stronger than me, and rich and good-looking and infinitely better at hockey than I could ever be. Please don’t come beat me up, Shea Weber).
2. And much more importantly, this season was a success in so many ways, considering the obstacles and adversity this team ran into almost from the start.
35-32-12, three games above .500. The Preds will finish the season, in all likelihood, as far above even as they have been all season. Management made some tough decisions this season, sacrificing immediate gain for next year. The most important, and hardest, move was trading away David Legwand, but the pick and prospects his departure brought back made it well worth the hit.
Fans can go into the offseason knowing next year will be, barring an unforeseen freak injury like kept Pekka Rinne out until late March, one for which the Preds are more prepared for success than any in recent memory.
As for the remainder of this season, if for no other reason tune in to see the promise of next year on the ice now.
The three remaining games:
Home versus Phoenix Thursday at 7 p.m.
Home versus Chicago Saturday at 7 p.m.
Away versus Minnesota Sunday at 7 p.m.
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