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Predators evened series by making every player accountable |
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Numbers tell the story of the Nashville Predators' last two playoff wins, but probably not in the way you think.
Goaltender Juuse Saros is rightfully receiving plenty of credit for making 110 saves over the past two games to help the Predators' even their best-of-seven series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2. The Saros save percentage was .940 in those two triumphs in Nashville.
But here are numbers that may say more about why the Predators have found their game against Carolina:
* In Nashville's Game 2 loss, Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene, the team's highest paid forwards at $8 million each, ranked third and fourth in playing time and were central figures on the power play.
* In Nashville's Game 3 win, Johansen and Duchene ranked eighth and nine, respectively in playing time among all Preds' forwards. In that Game 3 double-overtime game, Johansen played 22:16 and Duchene played 22:01. Nashville had seven power play chances, but Johansen received one second of power play time. Duchene had none.
* In Nashville's Game 4 victory, Johansen and Duchene ranked seventh and eighth among all forwards in playing time. In the Game 4 double OT, Johansen played 22:46 and Duchene was at 22:01. They each played 22 seconds on the power play.
Based on salary and skill, these two players should be Nashville's top two forwards in ice time. At the very worst, they should both be in the top 4.
It's never a good sign for a premium NHL player when his team plays better when he plays less.
But coach John Hynes' decision to reduce his stars' ice time does illustrate how he was able to turnaround the Predators in the second half of the season. It took a while, but the Predators finally understand that Hynes rewards players who are play the hardest and less production results in less playing time.
Hynes' demand for accountability has played a heavy role in the Predators' second half surge. The Predators were 11-16-1 in mid-March, the halfway point of the season, and that's when players had started to accept Hynes' ways.
Since then, the Predators are 20-7-1 in the regular-season and now 2-2 against the Carolina Hurricanes, a team more skillful than the Predators. To put Nashville's second half into perspective, consider that Carolina finished third overall in the standings, but the team was 16-5-7 in the second half of the season.
Hynes deserves more coach of the year consideration than he seems to be receiving. Demanding accountability is hardly a novel concept. But it's not easy to do when your two most skilled players are not getting it done. It's tricky to treat them the same. You can't live with them playing poorly, but you can't live without their skill level.
This Predators has been playing like a playoff team for two months. They have been more hard-nosed, more opportunistic in their scoring. Guys are buying into Hynes' philosophy that ice time goes to those who earn it.
Ice time has been going to guys like Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula and Luke Kunin because they are noticeable on every shift. The fact Granlund has been at the top of the playing time list is remarkable when you consider the Predators were frequently disappointed in him when he first arrived in Nashville. But he has thrived under Hynes.
That brings us to Duchene and Johansen who weren't noticeable very often this season or last. It's not easy to short the ice time of $8 million players. It draws attention to the notion that mistakes were made in the acquiring the player.
In the case of Duchene and Johansen, that's a hard truth.
But it should be noted that since Hynes cut their ice in these playoffs, Johansen has scored in back-to-back games and Duchene has netted a slick double-overtime goal.
It will be fascinating to see if their improved play will continue in Game 5, and whether Hynes will begin to show more faith in them.
The late Herb Brooks used to tell the 1980 Miracle on Ice team that they 'weren't talented enough to win by talent alone." The way that American team won was by everyone playing at his highest level.
That's what I think Hynes is trying to convey to the Predators They aren't talented enough to win by talent alone in a series against Carolina. But if every player rises to another level, including Johansen and Duchene, they do have a chance.
Give him some credit for having the
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