Predators will win Stanley Cup led by Saros, Josi

A team capable of making a long, productive run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs needs three critical elements -- goaltending, a leader on defense, and an offense capable of pushing the pace at key moments.

The Nashville Predators happen to have all three, along with the size and physicality up front to go toe to toe with any opponent. It is a formula that will deliver the city its first Stanley Cup championship.
In the four seasons since Nashville last reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016-17, it has advanced beyond the first round once, in 2017-18. But the disappointments of the past few seasons will be washed away by the flowing of celebratory champagne.
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The Predators have their goalie in Juuse Saros, if healthy, an elite defenseman in captain Roman Josi, and firepower on offense with five players scoring at least 20 goals: center Matt Duchene (NHL career-high 43), forward Filip Forsberg (NHL career-high 42), center Ryan Johansen (26), rookie forward Tanner Jeannot (24) and Josi (23).
Nashville had three players who scored at least 20 goals when it reached the Cup Final six seasons ago: Forsberg (31) and forwards Viktor Arvidsson (31) and James Neal (23).
Josi led Nashville with 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists), his most productive output in his 11 NHL seasons. He became the second Predators defenseman to score 20 goals in a season, joining Shea Weber, who did it three times (23 in 2008-09; 23 in 2013-14; 20 in 2015-16). He's the first defenseman since Brian Leetch (1995-96) to have at least 70 assists in a season and the sixth defenseman in NHL history to have at least 96 points in a season.
Saros, who is trying to overcome an injury sustained in the third-to-last game of the season, was third in wins (38), second in shots against (2,107), and first in saves (1,934) and minutes played (3,931:23) in 67 games.

Josi, Duchene, Forsberg, Johansen and center Mikael Granlund each had at least 60 points this season; Duchene is second on Nashville with 86 points (43 goals, 43 assists), followed by Forsberg (84 points; 42 goals, 42 assists).
Jeannot led all first-year players with 24 goals and ranked second among all NHL players with 318 hits. He's the second rookie in NHL history with at least 300 hits (Cal Clutterbuck, 356, 2008-09).
The Predators were 12th in the NHL in goals per game (3.20), sixth on the power play (24.4 percent) and lead the NHL in hits (2,470; 29.77 per 60 minutes).
Nashville can play fast or slow it down and revert to a more physical match. They have the key components, including the favorite for the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL, Josi, for a successful run and a championship finish.