Preds Embracing Playoff Mentality, Mindset in Final Four Weeks of Season

The Stanley Cup Playoffs don't begin for another four weeks, but as far as the Predators are concerned, their postseason is well underway.
The odds remain in Nashville's favor - the Preds currently have an 88.7 percent chance to make the playoffs as of Monday afternoon - but nothing in the NHL is ever guaranteed, especially at this time of the year.
Just 14 games are left for the Predators in the regular season, with 10 of those coming against Western Conference opponents and six - including three of the last four - against divisional rivals. Sure, the Preds could win all 14 of those games, but those odds aren't as advantageous.
Instead, each contest carries massive importance at this juncture, but Tuesday's outing at Bridgestone Arena might just prove to be a Round One preview. The Minnesota Wild - currently owners of the second spot in the Central Division with 91 points - are coming to town, and they'll provide the Preds with a formidable challenge, to say the least.

But that's exactly what players and coaches look forward to in the springtime - a chance to measure up against another one of those clubs with the same aspirations. Bottom line? It should be a dandy on Tuesday evening in Nashville.
"If we look at [the remaining schedule] and say, 'There's 14 games, we can't lose one;' that's not the right mindset," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said Monday. "The mindset for us is we've got a great opportunity and a great challenge tomorrow against Minnesota. There's an opportunity for us to get back home, we've got a couple days here to rest and recover, had a really good practice, it's going to be a great, competitive game and let's play our best in the high-stakes game… I really think you have to enjoy this time of year. We worked hard to be in the position that we're in. Let's enjoy it and let's find ways to win and continue to move forward."
The start of a new week brings an opportunity to move on from the start to the month of April for the Predators - a 4-3 loss in Buffalo on Friday evening. A few nights prior, Nashville earned a 4-1 win over Ottawa, but Hynes wasn't necessarily pleased with the effort from his team when a playoff-like mentality is expected.
The Preds will be eager to get back to that mantra, but what exactly does that look like - and how does a team show that mentality when there is still plenty of regular-season hockey to be played?
"Everything ramps up - that's first and foremost," Preds defenseman Mattias Ekholm said following Monday's practice. "Those details matter even more, and you go that extra inch. Unfortunately, we were short in Buffalo, but now we got a little bit of a reset here for three days and we should be ready to go tomorrow."
"One of the things we've talked a lot about is you have a strong identity, and I think the other one is icing the game that gives you the best chance to win night in and night out, and we know what that looks like," Hynes said. "For me, it's just really understanding the time of year that we're in where the runway gets shorter, so the games and the stakes and the points; the games become more emotional… It's also understanding that you don't get into this mindset that, 'Oh, tomorrow's the biggest game of the year, then Ottawa [on Thursday is] the biggest game of the year.' Every game right now is like a playoff game in the sense that the points matter, but you can only control what you can control. That's really making sure that whether it's how we're handling ourselves on practice days, how guys are taking care of themselves away from the rink, and then how we're getting ourselves prepared to play consistently to an identity that gives us a chance to win - when you see that day after day, you know that you're in a situation where your team's mindset is where it needs to be. Those are some things we've talked about, and I thought today was a good start with that."
Hynes says he and his team focus on their "competitive advantages," or the aspects the Preds have identified that give them the best chance to find success. Nashville's bench boss also says things that don't take talent - like worth ethic, compete level and mental readiness - hold even greater value at this point in the season because of what's on the line. Just because a team has been eliminated from playoff contention doesn't mean they can't win. The same is true on the other side of the ice, too.
Sure, that makes things entertaining - and sometimes stressful - to watch, but for those who live to compete, there's nothing better. That's also why the Predators feel so confident in their group - because they know their capability when they play to their best.
And odds are they'll be ready to go again Tuesday night.
"We've got to continue to have that playoff mentality, and especially in our own division," Preds forward Michael McCarron said. "We play Minnesota twice, Colorado [once] and we play St. Louis again. Those are teams that we have to come out and establish ourselves. It's not going to be easy. We need to have that playoff mentality against every team coming down the stretch and heading into playoffs. That notion is being set around the room, and I think we're all ready for the challenge."
"This is a great time of year where you get tested," Hynes said. "If you want to win anything, you have to play your best when the stakes are the highest. And now, what's better than being in high-stakes games with a month left in the season? You're playing quality teams, everyone's playing for something, and I think that's something that you want to hold your hat on, and I think that's the next step for our team. Can we play our best when the stakes are the highest at this point in the season? I think it's a great challenge for us. We're excited about it, and that's why you want to be in these positions at this time of the year where you're playing some meaningful hockey. You really can see your team grow in it, and you find ways to win, and you see the guys that can perform in these certain types of situations. Ultimately, your goal is to win a championship, but you've got to play your best when the stakes are high. That's what we're in now, which is great for us."