It comes down to this- 81 games in the book and a MUST win game tonight in Minnesota to close out the regular season. The Preds currently sit in the 8th spot in the Western Conference tied with St. Louis but holding the tie breaker with the number of wins. The Preds have to win tonight and hope that St. Louis drops one of its last two games (hopefully tonight in Columbus). All we can do is take care of what happens tonight on the ice. This team has shown an amazing amount of heart and grit and has battled against long odds in the sprint to the post season. Tonight is one more opportunity to put that heart and grit on display.
Nashville enters the contest with the Wild still shorthanded with Legwand, Erat, Pihlstrom, and Belak out of the lineup. Minnesota will be without Derek Boogard, Pierre Marc-Bouchard, and Nick Shultz.
The Captain, Jason Arnott, has put this team on his back and carried them to this point. It's obvious that we must continue to have production from the top line, but we also have to have production from the other lines as well. Good to see Scotty Nichol get on the score sheet and we need others to step up as well. Pekka Rinne has to continue his solid play and the D has to be sound. Xcel Energy Center has been another of those house of horrors for the Preds, with the Preds posting a 4-11 record in 15 trips. Long odds. So be it. Heart overcomes long odds.
You left it all on the ice last night, boys. Time to summon up the courage, the drive, the heart for one more victory. Screw the odds. You have been bred for this moment. It is your time.
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