Written by Doug Brumley
Nashville Predators ^[1]

Nashville, TN – With a Round 2 opponent yet to be determined, the Nashville Predators held a practice session that was up-tempo but not overly intense on Monday.

For the second day in a row, team members were loose and having fun on the ice while working up a sweat and polishing specific skills.Known opponent or not, Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz is determined to have his team better prepared for Round 2 than he felt they were last season. The goal of this week’s between-series practices is to get re-engaged, focusing on Round 2 rather than reflecting on Round 1.

The coaching staff thinks it has the right plan to allow for rest, recuperation and preparation. Tuesday, for example, will be a day off for the team.

The Predators do know one thing about their next series: They will face the winner of the Chicago Blackhawks-Phoenix Coyotes series, which could be settled as early as Monday night. (Phoenix leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.) As expected, no players in the Centennial Sportsplex locker room on Monday would declare a preferred opponent.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re going to play,” Patric Hornqvist said. “We have the day off tomorrow and then we have to go back at it, refocus and move forward here.”

Forward lines at Monday’s practice:

White jerseys: Mike Fisher centering Sergei Kostitsyn and Martin Erat
White jerseys: Nick Spaling centering Andrei Kostitsyn and Patric Hornqvist
Blue jerseys: David Legwand centering Alexander Radulov and Gabriel Bourque
Blue jerseys: Paul Gaustad centering Craig Smith and Brandon Yip
Gold jerseys: Colin Wilson centering Matt Halischuk and Jordan Tootoo