If there's one thing the Predators have demonstrated this season, it's that they can never be counted out of any game. No matter the score, no matter the circumstance.
Tuesday night, the Predators once again found a way to come back in miraculous fashion, beating the Minnesota Wild 5-4. Nashville was down 4-1 until midway through the third period when it started its comeback.
The win was the second time this season the Predators have come back from a deficit of three goals to emerge victorious. It was also the seventh time this season Nashville has come back from two or more goals and won.
The victory ensured that Nashville kept pace with the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference. The Predators were still three points back of first-place Detroit with 66 points. It also put the Predators 12 points clear of ninth-place Colorado.
Overall, the Predators have won 13 of their last 15 games and are on a five-game winning streak.
The last two weeks, the Predators have said their mentality involves more looking forward than backward. They don't want to just make the playoffs. They want to challenge for the higher spots in the Western Conference. If they keep winning, they'll have a chance to make some noise in the postseason.
They'll finish this road trip Thursday night against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference -- Philadelphia -- as a group brimming with confidence.
"The other teams are chasing us, and that's a good spot to be in. You want to be in that position," goaltender Pekka Rinne said.
NOTES, QUOTES
D Ryan Suter continued to try to clarify his comments he made during All-Star weekend. During a media session in Ottawa, Suter intimated he would not re-sign with the Predators before the trade deadline. Suter believed it would be a distraction if the news continued to fester.
"It was too bad that all that stuff happened. I just wish that (they) would have reported what I actually said," Suter said. "That's tough, and I think we have it corrected. I think my teammates, which is most important, know what I meant by that, and that's pretty much all I care about, just teammates and coaches."
D Shea Weber lost in the All-Star Game's hardest shot competition for the third time in three tries. Weber's 106 mile per hour was the fastest timed shot of his career, but it wasn't fast enough to beat Bruins D Zdeno Chara's 108 mile per hour blast. While talking to reporters Tuesday, Weber didn't seem all too upset.
"I think it would have won last year. I think if I keep beating the Chara of the year before I will win," Weber said. "Guys talk about he takes his fitness seriously. He's a competitive guy and wants to win it."
When televisions showed rookie C Craig Smith during All-Star weekend, he often had a broad smile on his face. Smith decided to forgo his junior season at Wisconsin to join the Predators this year. He took part in the skills competition of All-Star weekend. He said he learned some goal-scoring skill from the NHL's top sniper, Lightning C Steven Stamkos.
"He's quite the player, and he had a couple of moves I'm going to keep in my pocket for a long time," Smith said. "I thought everybody was down to earth. You could have a conversation with any guy there."
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We've done that a few times this year. We're feeling confident being down in third. We just kind of chipped away, once we get on a tear (with) momentum, we're hard to stop." -- C Mike Fisher
ROSTER REPORT
C Mike Fisher extended his points streak to seven points in his last five games. Fisher scored two goals in the final three minutes Tuesday.
RW Brandon Yip notched his first points as a Predator. Yip scored a goal and added an assist. They were Yip's first two points of the season in 13 games total.
D Ryan Suter had a wild night. Suter went from being minus-2 at one point to being on ice for all four of Nashville's third-period goals. Suter finished the game plus-2.
MEDICAL WATCH
D Francis Bouillon (upper body) is day-to-day.
LW Jerred Smithson (upper body) is day-to-day.
