In an interview final night time after his workforce’s 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators ahead Ryan O’Reilly spoke with Sportsnet’s Scott Oake in regards to the Predators’ current success. The dialog included a standout efficiency by goaltender Justus Annunen, his sixth profession hat trick, and what the workforce must do to maintain their momentum.
Right here’s what O’Reilly needed to say:
O’Reilly Praised Two Teammates
O’Reilly praised Justus Annunen’s 31-save efficiency, emphasizing how essential the younger goaltender’s hang-in-there angle was after a rocky begin. “It was a reasonably dangerous first interval,” O’Reilly admitted. “We gave up so many probabilities, however he got here by way of. These big stops tightened issues up, gave us momentum, and allowed us to crawl again into the sport.”
Partly, O’Reilly’s sixth profession hat trick was made doable by teammate Steven Stamkos’ unselfish play. “It was good of him,” O’Reilly mentioned. “I’m not that quick, and he delayed to present me a bit time to rise up there. It was an amazing, unselfish play by him.”
Does O’Reilly Suppose the Predators Can Recreate Final 12 months’s Run?
Final season, the Predators went an unimaginable 16-0-2 from mid-February to late March. That run pulled them upwards into playoff competition. O’Reilly stays optimistic {that a} related streak is feasible. “After we do issues properly, we see how efficient we will be,” he mentioned. “We haven’t misplaced within the new yr, and it’s one thing we need to hold constructing on.”
Nashville put up back-to-back street wins for the primary time this season, which is an indication of progress. Nonetheless, O’Reilly acknowledges that consistency can be key for the Predators. “We’re beginning to construct one thing,” he mentioned. “After we play tight defensively, we’re very efficient. Tonight was an ideal instance of that.”
He additionally pointed to sturdy goaltending and enhancing particular groups as the inspiration for sustained success. “If we hold constructing on this momentum, we are able to make it robust for prime groups to face us,” he famous. Juuse Saros has been stable. And final night time, Annunen’s potential to maintain the Predators within the sport highlighted the significance of sturdy goaltending for a workforce striving to recapture the magic of final season’s historic run.
Are the Predators Too Far Out of the Playoffs to Make It?
The Predators sit exterior the playoff image, however O’Reilly doesn’t suppose the hole is insurmountable. With sturdy goaltending and defensive play, they’ve proven glimpses of a workforce able to pulling collectively a run much like final yr’s historic magic. Nonetheless, the problem lies in stringing constant video games in opposition to extremely aggressive groups.
O’Reilly’s confidence and management present a flicker of hope, however the margin for error is skinny. The playoffs stay inside attain if Nashville can harness its current momentum and elevate its sport. The following few weeks will decide whether or not this optimism interprets into motion—and probably, one other unforgettable chapter in Predators historical past.
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