October 25, 2005

After the NHL lockout year of 2004-05, Nashville returned to the ice in the fall of 2005 with a vengeance.  The Preds won their first eight games of the season, claimed points in nine straight and posted an overall record of 8-1-1 in October, 2005. Not only was the eight-game run a franchise record for the longest winning streak, it tied the Predators for the third-best start in NHL history, behind only the 1993-94 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.

"The guys are playing with a lot of confidence,” Scott Hartnell said in the midst of the winning streak. “Everyone is doing their best every night to keep the streak alive."

The stretch included three shootout victories against Western Conference foes Anaheim, Phoenix and St. Louis, and three additional one-goal wins against San Jose (twice) and Colorado. The Predators were most clutch during crunch time, outscoring their opponent 11-4 in the third period.

"We are getting big goals when we need them, and are doing just enough to win," head coach Barry Trotz said. "We have gotten great goaltending, and really good performances from a lot of the straight-line gritty guys."