Predators’ Matt Duchene due to produce as playoffs near

By John Glennon

    Having already scored two of the Predators’ first four goals on Monday, Matt Duchene needed only to finish an easy tap-in for a hat trick during the team’s regular-season finale.

    He stood unguarded in the crease as the puck slid toward him, Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek still scrambling to get back into position. But Duchene somehow didn’t connect correctly on a point-blank backhand, getting too far under the puck and missing the net.

    So even on a night that saw Duchene increase his season goal-scoring total by 50 percent – from four to six – he was once again left pondering the one that got away.

    “It’s been a weird stretch almost since I got here in terms of weird bounces,” Duchene said. “That one (missed chance) I had in the second for the hat trick was kind of more par for the course than the first two (goals). But it’s good to put a couple in.”

    The Predators have to hope Duchene’s two-goal night against the Hurricanes will be a precursor of things to come for him in the playoffs, as Nashville faces an uphill climb against the Central Division champions.

    Perhaps the postseason will offer the opportunity to start fresh, a chance for Duchene to make some much . . .

This is a premium article, and you've reached the end of the free preview.

The rest of this content is restricted to Broadway Insiders. Register for an Broadway Insider Pass to view this post in its entirety.

If you're not ready to unlock everything Broadway Sports has to offer, you can return to our home page and view all the free content available right at your fingertips.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITSSTANDARD (FREE)BSM INSIDER PASS ($6.99/mo)
Comments on Articles✔︎✔︎
BSM Podcast Network✔︎✔︎
Access to Free Articles and Videos✔︎✔︎
ALL Premium Articles✔︎
EARLY Access to Select Written, Video and Audio Content✔︎
EXCLUSIVE Access to the full Mike Herndon Show✔︎
PRIVATE Invitations to Livestreams and Q&A's✔︎
EXCLUSIVE Access to the New Broadway Morning Newsletter✔︎
EXCLUSIVE Invitation to Private Fantasy Leagues and Competitions✔︎

Register New Account

Choose one of the following:

Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: