Since their occupation of then-named Gaylord Entertainment Center in 1998, the Nashville Predators have never had a better and more realistic shot at bringing home the historic and highly coveted Lord Stanley’s Cup.
    
After a so-so start to the year that saw the Predators slide to the underbelly of the Western Conference standings, the Preds really kicked into a higher gear.
    
This change in our fortunes resulted from a higher level of intensity on the ice coupled with goalie Pekka Rinne returning to his usual world-class caliber play started around the time of winter break.
    
An impressive streak began Dec. 8, at the end of finals time. Facing a second-straight loss to division-rival Columbus Blue Jackets, winger Patric Hornqvist and Co. decided that this season would be different. Down 3-1, Hornqvist netted a goal with 1:36 left in regulation. Three minutes and two more goals later, the Preds had earned an overtime victory.
   
A week later, captain Shea Weber single-handedly overcame a 3-2 deficit to another division rival, the Detroit Red Wings, with two goals in the last five minutes.
    
Since then, the never-say-die Preds have overcome more dire situations, including three-goal deficits to the Minnesota Wild and Blue Jackets again, to become second in the league in wins when trailing at the second intermission.
    
Furthermore, the Predators have added five key pieces through waivers, trades and the return from Russia of a prodigal son.
    
Picking up Brandon Yip from waivers on Jan. 19 gave the team a scrappy grinder who can also put the puck in the net. Yip has five points in 22 games.
    
The acquisition of Hal Gill from the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 17 began a series of moves by Predators General Manager David Poile that really upped the ante in the Western Conference.
    
Already solidly positioned to make the playoffs for the seventh time in the past eight years, Poile’s series of deadline trades really added the depth, experience and skill that Nashville needed to reach an even higher level.
    
Gill adds more grit to the penalty kill, which has moved from the middle of the league to the top 10 in the NHL since his acquisition. Gill also added size to a comparatively diminutive group of Predators blueliners. At 6-foot-7 and 247 pounds, Gill is capable of moving any opposing forward from the front of the net.
    
On the day of the trade deadline 10 days later, Poile added center Paul “Goose” Gaustad from the Buffalo Sabres and Andrei “AK46” Kostitsyn from Montreal.
    
Gaustad has won nearly 60 percent of his face-offs this year, making him one of the top 10 face-off winners in the NHL this season. That crucial domination of the face-off circle, along with Gaustad’s intimidating 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame, has no doubt been instrumental in the improved penalty kill.
    
Andrei Kostitsyn, on the other hand, brought more offensive firepower to a team that has been characterized in the past for its lack of offensive production. In 14 games since joining brother Sergei in the lineup, Andrei has reeled off eight points on four goals and four assists.
    
Which brings us to the most important roster change of the season. Following four seasons in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Alexander Radulov has returned to the Preds, earning three points in his first four games back. Drafted by the Predators in 2006, Radulov played two seasons in Nashville, scoring 26 goals in his sophomore season. With one year remaining on his contract in Nashville, he defected to Russia, where he has played the last four seasons.
    
Widely regarded as the best hockey player in the world not playing in the NHL, Radulov’s return has made this team a serious cup contender. The two-time MVP of the KHL, he brings an even greater scoring threat than any of the trade deadline acquisitions.
    
Radulov also improves a power play that is already ranked first in the NHL, scoring on 21.8 percent of their power plays.
    
Which all adds up to a scary Predators squad that will make a deep playoff run this season. The players have to be licking their chops after the franchise’s first series win over Anaheim and heartbreaking loss to Vancouver in the second round in last season’s playoffs.
    
The Preds will most likely be matched against the Red Wings, who eliminated Nashville from playoff contention in 2008, which also featured Radulov’s last NHL game before leaving for Russia.
    
I predict the Predators will make the finals, where they will lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games.

— Ashton Smith is a sophomore in communications. He can be reached at ssmit192@utk.edu.