Grueling schedule doesn’t faze Preds
The Predators have settled into quite a rhythm in the postseason. Game, off day. Rinse and repeat now for three weeks and counting.
That’s what happens after pushing — and winning — a first-round series in seven games.
The Predators will play their 11th game in 21 days Thursday night against the Sharks in Game 4 of their second-round series. The Blues also went seven games against the Blackhawks, though the Blues had a three-day break before starting their series with Dallas.
The Predators have the added twist of their second straight series with a California team after knocking off Anaheim. That turns some off days when the series switches cities into travel days featuring long flights between time zones. Coach Peter Laviolette said that it has been a grind.
“We really haven’t practiced in a long time,” Laviolette said.
“I’m not sure that we’ll get to one unless we catch a break for a couple days. ... I think rest trumps everything now. Wewant tomake sure our players have the juice to play.”
One eye on Canada: Blues forward Scottie Upshall has numerous family members who live in FortMcMurray, Alberta, including a brother and his fiance, plus aunts, uncles and nieces.
Playing Game 3 against the Stars was a welcome diversion from thoughts about the devastation wrought by a raging wildfire that has forced the evacuation of about 88,000 residents from the city surrounded by wilderness in the heart of Canada’s oil sands region.
“Most of my family was trying not to overplay it at all, but therewas nothing to really overplay when something like that happens,” Upshall said.
Hundreds of structures were damaged or destroyed near the city.