by Zachary Harmuth
The Preds are nine points out of the second wildcard spot with nine games left to play.
At 31-31-10, Nashville has hovered right around .500 for, really, the whole season.
So expecting the Preds to bridge the gap might be wishful thinking this late in the season.
But that is no reason to not enjoy the rest of the season.
For starters, fans should expect to see a lot of experimentation with the lineup, while the team irons out its new parts from the Legwand trade and, on the flip side, learns to play without the man who was literally the first Predator ever.
In the last week, the Preds played Vancouver, with Hutton in goal, and lost 2-0. Then, also with Hutton in goal, they beat Calgary 6-5. Hutton has sat sinc, after giving up 8 goals in two games.
Probably, the Preds were hanging Hutton out for trade bait while giving Rinne rest as he works the rust off from his long injury.
Then, putting Rinne in the rotation at goal to help him ease his way into playing shape safely, the team sat Hutton for the next game.
The move paid off with a win, 2-0, against first-place Chicago. Then in a shoot-out loss on Tuesday night the Preds lost 5-4. Still a decent showing from a team that has had trouble scoring goals all season.
Thursday, the Preds play at home against Buffalo at 8 p.m., then on Friday travel to Dallas. They get Saturday off before playing at home on Sunday night against Washington at 8 p.m.
