NHL: Minnesotans helping Nashville to astounding record

By Chad Graff
St. Paul Pioneer Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Last week, a storm coupled with uncharacteristic freezing temperatures turned this region into an ice sheet.
Schools were cancelled, so Matt Cullen took his children onto the street in front of their house that had turned into a private ice rink. They skated for hours and for a few moments as they skated outside, it felt like they never left Minnesota.
“It was like being at home,” Cullen, of Moorhead, said. “It’s been kind of crazy.”
Indeed, it has been that kind of season in this city where the local Predators have suddenly turned into the NHL’s best team behind contributions from two Minnesotans - Cullen, a former Wild alternate captain, and Phil Housley, an assistant coach in his second season behind the bench with the Predators and a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer from South St. Paul.
When the Predators welcome the Wild tonight (Thursday), they’ll do so with more wins than any other NHL team and the league’s top home record, an astounding 26-3-1 clip in this city.
“We’ve been fortunate,” Housley said. “We’ve been opportunistic. When we haven’t had our best, we’ve found ways to win. There’s no panic when we get down a goal. We just stay with our game plan and try to get as many shots directed at the net as we can.”
The two have helped put the Predators in position to win the NHL’s Presidents’ Trophy as the top regular season team.
That could put them in position for a first round playoff series against the Wild, a matchup that would come true if the standings hold true.
“That would be fun,” Cullen, a former Moorhead High School hockey star, said with a laugh.
Nashville will be a dangerous matchup regardless who they play in the postseason.
The Predators boast the league’s top rookie in phenom Filip Forsberg, one of the league’s top defenseman in Shea Weber, and one of the league’s top goalies in Pekka Rinne.
“We still have over 20 games left,” Cullen said. “But with the way that we’re playing and especially with our goaltending, we’re set up to be pretty good going into the playoffs.”
Last season was Housley’s first behind a NHL bench. After Predators coach Barry Trotz was fired at the end of last season, new Preds coach Peter Laviolette retained Housley.
He’s enjoyed his time in Nashville, though it’s easy to imagine an opportunity as a NHL head coach coming at some point for Housley.
“I’ve had the opportunity to learn from two of the best in Barry Trotz last year and certainly Peter Laviolette has done an outstanding job really directing the ship and putting everyone in place,” Housley said. “His style of play I think the players welcome and enjoy the way we’re playing. It’s been great. Obviously winning helps cure a lot that can happen in the season.”
And the Predators have done plenty of winning.
Nashville is one of the most talented teams in the league. Because of that, Cullen, 38, spends less time in the scoring role that he often filled with the Wild.
Cullen has recorded five goals and 10 assists in 46 games this season.
He has learned to adjust to different roles for a chance at a second Stanley Cup.
“At this point of my career, the only thing you really care about is winning and I feel really lucky and blessed to be in a spot where I have a chance to take another run at it,” Cullen said. “That’s all you can really ask for. It’s kind of rejuvenated me.”
The Pioneer Press is a media partner with Forum News Service.