2014–15 Nashville Predators season

The 2014–15 Nashville Predators season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.

Off-season The day after the end of the Predators' 2013–14 season, where the team missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second-straight year, it was announced that after 17 years at the helm of the Nashville Predators, Barry Trotz was relieved of his duties as head coach.

On May 6, 2014, it was announced that Peter Laviolette, former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, was hired to replace Trotz as the new head coach of the Predators. The team also hired Kevin McCarthy as an assistant coach.

On June 27, 2014, during the first round of the 2014 NHL entry draft, the Predators traded right winger Patric Hornqvist and restricted free agent Nick Spaling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for right winger James Neal.

Playoffs

The Nashville Predators entered the playoffs as the Central Division's second seed. They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the first round.

Standings

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Anton Volchenkov Illegal check to the head of Calgary Flames forward Micheal Ferland during NHL Game No. 151 in Calgary on Friday, October 31, 2014, at 19:06 of the second period. 4 games $21,505.36 November 2, 2014 James Neal Diving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 447 in San Jose on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at 19:39 of the third period. — $2,000.00 December 17, 2014 Craig Smith High-sticking on Buffalo Sabres forward Jerry D'Amigo during NHL Game No. 1075 in Nashville on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 17:50 of the first period. — $5,000.00 March 22, 2015

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2014 Pre-Season game log: 3–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 23 Nashville 2–4 Tampa Bay Mazanec 10,442 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 25 Tampa Bay 0–1 Nashville Rinne 13,107 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 27 Florida 1–2 Nashville SO Hutton 12,700 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 27 Florida 1–4 Nashville Rinne 15,741 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 29 Columbus 3–0 Nashville Rinne 11,905 3–2–0 Recap 6 October 4 Nashville 2–3 Columbus Rinne 14,786 3–3–0 Recap

Regular season 2014–15 game log October: 6–2–2 (home: 4–1–1; road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Ottawa 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 11 Dallas 1–4 Nashville Rinne 17,113 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 14 Calgary 3–2 Nashville SO Rinne 15,654 2–0–1 5 Recap 4 October 17 Nashville 2–0 Winnipeg Rinne 15,016 3–0–1 7 Recap 5 October 18 Nashville 1–2 Chicago OT Hutton 21,640 3–0–2 8 Recap 6 October 21 Arizona 3–4 Nashville SO Rinne 15,694 4–0–2 10 Recap 7 October 23 Chicago 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,157 5–0–2 12 Recap 8 October 25 Pittsburgh 3–0 Nashville Rinne 17,218 5–1–2 12 Recap 9 October 29 Nashville 4–1 Edmonton Rinne 16,839 6–1–2 14 Recap 10 October 31 Nashville 3–4 Calgary Rinne 18,505 6–2–2 14 Recap November: 10–3–0 (home: 6–0–0; road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 2 Nashville 3–1 Vancouver Rinne 18,395 7–2–2 16 Recap 12 November 4 Nashville 1–3 Winnipeg Hutton 15,016 7–3–2 16 Recap 13 November 6 Nashville 3–2 Dallas Rinne 17,054 8–3–2 18 Recap 14 November 8 Nashville 2–1 St. Louis Rinne 18,869 9–3–2 20 Recap 15 November 11 Edmonton 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,129 10–3–2 22 Recap 16 November 13 Nashville 3–4 St. Louis Rinne 15,702 10–4–2 22 Recap 17 November 15 Winnipeg 1–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 11–4–2 24 Recap 18 November 18 Nashville 9–2 Toronto Rinne 19,007 12–4–2 26 Recap 19 November 20 Nashville 2–3 Ottawa Hutton 16,796 12–5–2 26 Recap 20 November 22 Florida 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,163 13–5–2 28 Recap 21 November 25 Los Angeles 3–4 Nashville SO Rinne 17,181 14–5–2 30 Recap 22 November 27 Edmonton 0–1 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 15–5–2 32 Recap 23 November 29 Columbus 1–2 Nashville Rinne 16,548 16–5–2 34 Recap December: 8–4–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 Nashville 1–2 Carolina Rinne 9,161 16–6–2 34 Recap 25 December 4 St. Louis 3–4 Nashville Rinne 16,409 17–6–2 36 Recap 26 December 6 Chicago 3–1 Nashville Rinne 17,212 17–7–2 36 Recap 27 December 9 Nashville 3–0 Colorado Rinne 12,689 18–7–2 38 Recap 28 December 11 Nashville 5–1 Arizona Rinne 10,194 19–7–2 40 Recap 29 December 13 Nashville 0–2 San Jose Rinne 17,059 19–8–2 40 Recap 30 December 16 Boston 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 20–8–2 42 Recap 31 December 20 Nashville 6–5 Minnesota OT Rinne 19,017 21–8–2 44 Recap 32 December 22 Nashville 5–1 Columbus Rinne 14,573 22–8–2 46 Recap 33 December 23 Nashville 3–5 Boston Hutton 17,565 22–9–2 46 Recap 34 December 27 Philadelphia 1–4 Nashville Rinne 17,315 23–9–2 48 Recap 35 December 29 Nashville 4–5 Chicago SO Rinne 22,208 23–9–3 49 Recap 36 December 30 St. Louis 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,401 24–9–3 51 Recap January: 7–2–3 (home: 5–0–0; road: 2–2–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 3 Nashville 7–6 Los Angeles OT Rinne 18,230 25–9–3 53 Recap 38 January 4 Nashville 3–4 Anaheim SO Hutton 16,402 25–9–4 54 Recap 39 January 6 Carolina 2–3 Nashville Rinne 15,706 26–9–4 56 Recap 40 January 8 Dallas 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 27–9–4 58 Recap 41 January 10 Nashville 3–1 Minnesota Rinne 19,052 28–9–4 60 Recap 42 January 13 Vancouver 1–5 Nashville Rinne 15,726 29–9–4 62 Recap 43 January 16 Washington 3–4 Nashville Hutton 17,303 30–9–4 64 Recap 44 January 17 Nashville 2–5 Detroit Hutton 20,027 30–10–4 64 Recap 45 January 20 Nashville 1–2 Montreal OT Hutton 21,287 30–10–5 65 Recap 46 January 27 Colorado 3–4 Nashville OT Hutton 15,566 31–10–5 67 Recap 47 January 29 Nashville 4–5 St. Louis SO Hutton 19,477 31–10–6 68 Recap 48 January 30 Nashville 0–3 Colorado Mazanec 18,064 31–11–6 68 Recap February: 10–4–1 (home: 7–3–0; road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 February 1 Nashville 4–0 Pittsburgh Hutton 18,535 32–11–6 70 Recap 50 February 3 Toronto 3–4 Nashville Hutton 15,667 33–11–6 72 Recap 51 February 5 Anaheim 5–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 33–12–6 72 Recap 52 February 7 NY Rangers 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,329 34–12–6 74 Recap 53 February 8 Nashville 3–2 Florida Hutton 10,844 35–12–6 76 Recap 54 February 10 Tampa Bay 2–3 Nashville OT Rinne 16,362 36–12–6 78 Recap 55 February 12 Winnipeg 1–3 Nashville Rinne 16,135 37–12–6 80 Recap 56 February 14 New Jersey 1–3 Nashville Rinne 17,333 38–12–6 82 Recap 57 February 17 San Jose 1–5 Nashville Rinne 16,206 39–12–6 84 Recap 58 February 19 Nashville 2–5 NY Islanders Rinne 16,170 39–13–6 84 Recap 59 February 21 Nashville 2–3 Philadelphia SO Rinne 19,680 39–13–7 85 Recap 60 February 22 Nashville 2–1 Buffalo SO Hutton 19,070 40–13–7 87 Recap 61 February 24 Colorado 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 41–13–7 89 Recap 62 February 26 Minnesota 4–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 41–14–7 89 Recap 63 February 28 Detroit 4–3 Nashville Rinne 17,361 41–15–7 89 Recap March: 6–7–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Nashville 1–4 NY Rangers Rinne 18,006 41–16–7 89 Recap 65 March 3 Nashville 1–3 New Jersey Hutton 13,012 41–17–7 89 Recap 66 March 5 NY Islanders 4–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 41–18–7 89 Recap 67 March 7 Winnipeg 3–1 Nashville Rinne 17,113 41–19–7 89 Recap 68 March 9 Nashville 2–1 Arizona OT Rinne 11,227 42–19–7 91 Recap 69 March 12 Nashville 0–2 San Jose Rinne 17,562 42–20–7 91 Recap 70 March 14 Nashville 2–1 Los Angeles Rinne 18,230 43–20–7 93 Recap 71 March 15 Nashville 2–4 Anaheim Rinne 17,295 43–21–7 93 Recap 72 March 17 Minnesota 3–2 Nashville OT Rinne 17,209 43–21–8 94 Recap 73 March 21 Buffalo 0–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 44–21–8 96 Recap 74 March 24 Montreal 2–3 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 45–21–8 98 Recap 75 March 26 Nashville 3–2 Tampa Bay Rinne 19,204 46–21–8 100 Recap 76 March 28 Nashville 4–3 Washington Rinne 18,506 47–21–8 102 Recap 77 March 29 Calgary 5–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 47–22–8 102 Recap 78 March 31 Vancouver 5–4 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 47–22–9 103 Recap April: 0–3–1 (home: 0–1–1; road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 4 Dallas 4–3 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 47–22–10 104 Recap 80 April 7 Nashville 2–3 Colorado Rinne 13,561 47–23–10 104 Recap 81 April 9 Minnesota 4–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 47–24–10 104 Recap 82 April 11 Nashville 1–4 Dallas Hutton 18,532 47–25–10 104 RecapLegend:

Playoffs 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference first round vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago won series 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 15 Chicago 4–3 Nashville 2OT Rinne 17,225 0–1 Recap 2 April 17 Chicago 2–6 Nashville Rinne 17,208 1–1 Recap 3 April 19 Nashville 2–4 Chicago Rinne 22,020 1–2 Recap 4 April 21 Nashville 2–3 Chicago 3OT Rinne 22,014 1–3 Recap 5 April 23 Chicago 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,238 2–3 Recap 6 April 25 Nashville 3–4 Chicago Rinne 22,171 2–4 Recap

Legend:

Player stats Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 26 37 63 15 24 82 15 47 62 11 52 81 15 40 55 15 26 78 15 30 45 15 72 82 23 21 44 11 44 77 20 22 42 19 22 59 19 20 39 4 39 67 23 14 37 12 57 58 9 18 27 8 27 82 8 19 27 3 20 62 7 18 25 8 16 80 7 11 18 12 52 74 7 11 18 2 18 62 8 8 16 −4 18 73 4 10 14 7 60 69 3 10 13 −13 10 60 7 5 12 0 15 25 2 8 10 0 18 ‡ 26 1 9 10 0 2 37 0 10 10 1 26 46 0 7 7 4 14 ‡ 48 3 3 6 2 26 † 22 1 3 4 −7 6 † 23 1 3 4 0 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 †‡ 4 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 −1 2 7 0 0 0 −1 7 1 0 0 0 −1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player 6 4 2 6 1 4 6 5 0 5 −1 0 6 4 1 5 0 8 6 2 3 5 2 0 6 1 4 5 2 4 6 0 4 4 −6 6 6 1 2 3 1 0 6 0 3 3 4 2 6 1 1 2 −1 4 5 0 2 2 1 0 6 0 2 2 −2 0 4 1 0 1 2 0 6 1 0 1 −5 0 6 1 0 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 6 0 0 0 −1 22 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 −2 2 5 0 0 0 −3 2 1 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 64 64 3,851 41 17 6 140 2.18 1807 .923 4 0 1 8 18 17 1010 6 7 4 44 2.61 450 .902 1 0 0 0 2 1 106 0 1 0 4 2.26 47 .915 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player 6 6 425 2 4 19 2.68 208 .909 0 0 1 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Third Star of the Week November 17, 2014 NHL Rookie of the Month December 1, 2014 NHL Third Star of the Month December 1, 2014 NHL Second Star of the Week December 29, 2014 NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015 NHL All-Star game rookie selection January 10, 2015 NHL Third Star of the Week February 16, 2015

Milestones