We’ve reached roughly the one-third point of the season by now, and in reflection it’s certainly been a year of ups and downs.

I think that when you look back on things as a whole, you realize that it’s almost been typical early-season Nashville with a few exceptions. For the most part the team struggled a bit early and tried to find an identity for itself. It’s a team based around defense always, but there are different ways to execute D based on the talents assembled. Goaltending is always a must-have for the Predators. And goals aren’t always easy to find.

What has been different for this edition of the Predators is the reliance on younger players. Last summer served as a veteran clearinghouse for the Preds, who, after getting solid performances out of many younger players down the stretch and into the playoffs, were confident enough to make those moves. While almost all prospects had spent time in Milwaukee, the team’s roster was still the youngest in the NHL on Opening Night (thanks in part to Francis Bouillon starting the year on IR). Sometimes that youth has an energy that is hard to overcome and it can help bail the team out. Sometimes it is also accompanied by a dose of inexperience that can hurt you.

Moving forward much will depend on continuing the maturity process for the players involved and jelling more as the season lengthens. Last night’s win in Columbus can serve as the kind of victory that binds a team and lights a fire within. It can also appear as a flash in the pan. I’m hoping that the Predators can use the momentum going forward and confidence taken from that game in many situations down the road. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be important for this team to know it can win when it works hard.

Three questions that need to be answered over the rest of the season:
  1. Can the top six forward bring the energy, emotion and enthusiasm needed to be constant scoring threats?
  2. Can Pekka Rinne shake off the mini-slump he just endured and once again help the Preds put on a playoff push?
  3. Will the youngsters be able to find a solid level of consistency and once again contribute in a major way?

Moving forward, three players to keep an eye on:
  1. Craig Smith – Currently the team's leading scorer, can he continue to put points on the board throughout the grind of his first full NHL campaign?
  2. Jonathon Blum/Kevin Klein – Can they turn around tough starts on defense and improve plus/minus ratings? Blum and Klein were a key pairing for the Preds during last year's playoff run, providing a reliability when Suter and Weber weren't on the ice.
  3. Martin Erat – He’s always put up points in bunches, but can this be the year he finds a groove?

So get ready for the Ducks on Saturday, and we’ll see you at the rink!