Courtesy of the Nashville Predators
October 30, 2010
NASHVILLE -- Getting eliminated in the playoffs by the eventual Stanley Cup champion -- especially in the first round -- is no reason to be ashamed.
But for the Nashville Predators, losing last spring in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks has been a tough memory to shake. For those who may have forgotten, Nashville was no mere speed bump on the Blackhawks' path to glory.
They were seconds away from returning home for Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead when they surrendered a shorthanded goal to Patrick Kane, who tied it with 13.6 seconds left in regulation and his goaltender pulled. The Preds then failed to score in overtime on the continuing major power play, and Marian Hossa, the player penalized for boarding Nashville's Dan Hamhuis, came out of the box and scored the game-winner. Chicago finished the series in a wild Game 6 with a 5-3 win that included an empty-net goal.
Rather than feel sorry for themselves, the Predators have used those memories to get off to the best start in the NHL at 5-0-3.
Cody Franson (Getty Images)"Obviously it is (motivation), especially after it happens and into the summer, into your training," Predators captain Shea Weber said. "Obviously, that's something you can't forget and you never want it to happen again, so we're trying to move past that and get better from it."
Courtesy of the Nashville Predators
