Preds See 2019-20 Season Conclude with Overtime Loss to Coyotes

Sometimes, it's just not meant to be.

Even in a series that saw the Nashville Predators hold an edge in just about every statistical category - and dominate their opponent at times - they weren't on the winning side of the fist-bump line.

Even after Filip Forsberg tied Game 4, 3-3, with an extra-attacker goal and 32 seconds on the clock, the Predators fell in overtime to the Arizona Coyotes to bring an end to their Stanley Cup Qualifier series and their time in the 2020 postseason.

Just like that, a campaign that didn't go the way anyone could have imagined came to a conclusion.

Nashville returned from a season pause that began in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They skated in Music City for weeks and entered the Edmonton Secure Zone - along with 11 other Western Conference teams - in late July, with their eyes on the Stanley Cup.

But in a best-of-five series against Arizona, the Preds only collected one victory. The result would be frustrating regardless, but considering everything the Predators went through to prepare to play, and then adding in the amount of effort exerted in each contest over the past week, walking out of Rogers Place after four games leaves an empty feeling.

"This [result] is hard, for sure," Predators Captain Roman Josi said. "Even today, we had a lot of chances and a lot of shots… but at the end of the day, it's about winning, and we didn't get the job done. This one definitely stings."

The time for lessons and roster moves will come soon enough, but on Friday afternoon, Preds players and head coach John Hynes were left saying: this series should have gone differently.

"When you look at how the series played out, you have to give the players credit," Hynes said of his team. "They played the right way, they played with structure. Unfortunately, in a few games, we couldn't get the extra goal, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort or lack of opportunities or a lack of chances or O-zone time or what have you. We just couldn't find a way to solve [Coyotes goaltender Darcy] Kuemper as much as we threw at him. I think those are the takeaways of it."

"It's frustrating," Forsberg said. "We played well enough to win, but we also have to find that little extra to win. Obviously, their goalie played unbelievable in all four games. You've got to give him credit. They're a hard-working team, they do a lot of things the right way, and I think we did too. Like I said, it could have easily tipped either way in games. You look back and you wish you could change things and stuff like that, but I thought everybody on our team put everything they had into this and we can be proud of that. The outcome is something that we'd like to change and a couple of things down the road could have changed, but we can't do anything about that."

Much like the opening period of Game 3, the Predators outplayed the Coyotes in the first 20 minutes of Game 4, but Arizona again found a way to escape with the lead. Michael Grabner floated a shot through traffic and past Juuse Saros for a 1-0 lead after the first.

Phil Kessel made it 2-0 Coyotes when he beat Saros with a shot from the right circle fewer than two minutes into the middle frame, but Nashville responded this time.

First, on the power play, Matt Duchene tipped Josi's point shot past Kuemper for his first of the postseason to get the Preds on the board. Then, fewer than four minutes later, Ryan Ellis found Viktor Arvidsson with a beautiful feed, and the Nashville winger buried his third of the series to even the score through two periods.

The response afforded the Predators an opportunity to win the third period and force a decisive Game 5. Instead, Arvidsson did not return from the second intermission due to injury and the Coyotes went back ahead at 4:21 on Jordan Osterele's first.

Down a goal in the final seconds of regulation, Ellis fought to keep the puck in at the blue line and found Forsberg, who rifled a shot into the net. The Predators had life once more and with only moments to spare.

Nashville fought for the final goal they needed in overtime, and they had four shots in the extra session, but Arizona's Brad Richardson chipped in the series-ender at 5:27.

"We definitely played well enough to win," Forsberg said. "It didn't happen this time. Going into OT, there was the same message, just keep playing the way we did. We got a couple of great chances, a couple that could have bounced our way. Just like OT hockey can be, they got a bounce and the right guy at the right time pokes it in for them."

The strangeness of 2020 won't stop here. Nashville will return home and prepare for a 2020-21 season that is expected to start in a few months, perhaps in December. They'll also have a chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the Video: NSH@ARI, Gm4: Duchene deflects PPG by Kuemper (at 5 p.m. CT; Watch: NBCSN, NHL Network).

But for now, the Predators can only think of what's ahead for a group that deserved a better fate in the qualifying round. The end of a season is never easy to cope with, but even in the immediate aftermath of defeat, there is still room for hope.

Seated at the postgame press conference with Josi alongside, Ellis took a look back at some of Nashville's recent postseason exits and explained why this one felt different.

"If you look - really going back to the Colorado series, into the Winnipeg series [in 2018] and then last year with Dallas - I don't think we were proud of any of those series," Ellis said. "But, this seemed like a different group. I think as soon as we came into camp [in mid-July], from Game 1 here, it just seemed like a different feeling, a different group. Give Arizona credit, they played well, their goaltending was spectacular, but in my opinion I think we thoroughly outplayed them in a lot of areas, just not on the scoresheet.

"I couldn't be prouder of this group. We're in a pandemic, and the way this group responded coming in through training camp and into this bubble; if you asked me [if] you would have gotten that kind of play out of this group, I don't know - after the last couple series - if I would have believed it. But I think there's a new sense of belief and pride in that room right now. Although we lost, it's amazing to see how far this group's come in such a short time."

The Preds will fly back to Nashville soon and then head their different ways with the uncertainty of what's next, and when they might play again in a global landscape that continues to change by the day.

But no matter how much this group changes, they will be back at some point to write another act in this franchise's history.

Until next season.

"We went through a lot of adversity this year, me included," Duchene said. "Every adverse situation you get put in is a chance to grow, and a chance to learn and move forward. I've got a lot of years left in Nashville. I'm proud, so happy to be here. I love this team, I love this group and I believe in this group. Better days are ahead for sure."

Notes:

Nashville's coaching staff swapped centers on the second and third lines - Nick Bonino and Kyle Turris - but the same collection of players remained in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game.

Dan Hamhuis, Korbinian Holzer, Daniel Carr, Eeli Tolvanen, Yakov Trenin, Colin Blackwell, Alexandre Carrier, Michael McCarron, Troy Grosenick and Connor Ingram were scratched for the Preds in Game 4.

The Predators will enter into a draft lottery with the other eight teams who lose in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. On Monday, Nashville will have a 12.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick.