Nashville Predators general manager David Poile joined Darren, Daunic & Chase on 102.5 The Game Thursday afternoon from the hub city bubble in Edmonton with his team facing elimination in 24 hours, trailing the Arizona Coyotes, 2-1, in their best-of-five series.
Poile’s message throughout the interview was that his team is playing more than well enough to win despite the results of games one and three.
“I think we’ve actually, in a lot of areas, played really, really well,” Poile said. “But the scoreboard is what counts and we’re on the wrong side of it right now.”
The Preds dropped Game Three on Wednesday, 4-1, after having a go-ahead goal by Kyle Turris disallowed and then allowing three third period goals shortly thereafter.
“We’re the more experienced team,” Poile said. “If we just stick to what we’re doing, I don’t think we have to make too many changes.”
Poile points to an additional, situational culprit beyond simple puck luck; the format of the restart.
“Watching this whole tournament…, the way the games are going, the outcomes are almost the opposite of what I think, even during the game.”
He pointed at the 12-seeded Blackhawks and Canadiens, who each have 2-1 series leads over the five-seeded Oilers and Penguins, respectively. Both teams are one win away from qualifying for the true playoffs despite being distant onlookers to the top eight when the season was paused on March 12.
The NHL playoffs are always prone to upsets, but this year so far feels even more like a coin flip to the architect of the Preds franchise, especially with the ability for goalies to steal a short five-game series.
“It’s just different after being off for four months,” Poile said. “If you were going to give an MVP for our series right now, [Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper] would be the one.”
The Preds must now beat the Coyotes twice in a row to play on and enter the playoff field. Game four is on Friday at 1:30 in the afternoon, with a potential game five coming at a to be determined time Sunday. Both games will air on 102.5 The Game and The Game Nashville app.
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