Everything coach John Hynes said about Nashville Predators missing NHL playoffs
Nashville Predators coach John Hynes is disappointed that the team is eliminated from the 2023 NHL playoffs despite the win on Tuesday night.
The Predators were eliminated from the final playoff spot in the Central Division following the 3-2 shootout win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. The Winnipeg Jets' 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild gave them the final push into the last Wild Card position.
"It was disappointing because of how it played out with the win against Calgary and the last 15-20 games all the players fought to win games and to stay in the race," Hynes said Wednesday in addressing the media. "To be unable to continue that with two games left is disappointing."
He also mentioned that the team is taking a mental day off and credited a few of the older players who on took leadership roles and helped mentor the younger guys throughout the season.
"The leadership has been really good, I think you have to give credit to the older guys in the lineup that have been here this whole stretch. (Ryan) McDonagh has been a huge factor, Colton Sissons, Tyson Barrie stepped in, Juuse Saros."
"There's been a lot of mentorship for the young guys about how to navigate through playing against the Carolinas, the intensity level of the schedule ... how do you win at this level and what's going to give ourselves the best chance."
The team returns to Nashville for the final two games against the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and Friday.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Nashville Predators coach John Hynes said missing NHL playoffs