Preds Thrash Atlanta, 2 Games Left

Kudos to the Preds for coming fast out of the gate last night and putting their boot on the throat of Atlanta. Three goals in the first period put the game away early and the Preds cruised to a 6-3 win. Great goal by Matt Halischuk with his back to the net to get things started. Atlanta outshot the Pred but it was not the quality chances to make you think the game was in any danger of slipping away. Preds currently sit 4th in the western conference standings, 1 point ahead of Phoenix and Los Angeles. Both of those teams have played 1 less game than the Preds though. If the Preds win their last 2 games, that should be enough to keep them either a 4 or 5 seed and substantially increase their chances of finally winning a first round playoff series. Lose a game or two and you could be looking at playing San Jose or Detroit in the first round. Time to do a little scoreboard watching the next few nights until the Preds close out with back to back games Fri/Sat. Also look for Steve Sullivan to try to get on the ice to show he is healthy and worthy of a playoff roster spot. He has to show in one of the last 2 games he has recovered from the groin surgery and has his speed back. The Preds can't take a chance of having him on the roster and he is unable to go. I had posted previously I thought he was done as a Predator, we shall see. I don't see the Preds paying him what he wants next year at his age and injury risk.