Nashville Predators: What they need to do to win

The Nashville Predators are tied (1-1) in their first-round playoff series with the Dallas Stars, here is what they need to do to win.

In two games played in a best of seven series, the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars are tied at one game apiece. Nashville was favored by Vegas betting lines to win the series, but now the tables have turned and Dallas is a favorite at -130. As the Predators are heading to play Games 3 and 4 in Dallas, they are realizing that they are in a dog fight.

Out of all the Stanley Cup Playoffs games being played so far, all of them seem to be physical except the Nashville and Dallas series. Each team seems as if they are playing in mid-regular season form, pulling up from hits and lack of hustle. In order to fix this, Nashville must bring in a physical force to spark energy in the lineup and in the series.

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The player the Predators must insert into the lineup is Cody McLeod. To place him in the lineup, they must scratch Kyle Turris. McLeod has had one point and 27 penalty minutes in his last 15 playoff games where Turris has only three points eight points in his last 15 playoff games.

Although Turris was brought over to register points in the playoffs, he has lacked productivity the whole 2018-19 playoffs and regular season.

McLeod is a reliable and gritty forward that can be inserted into the fourth line with Boyle and Simmonds. With him on the fourth line, he will provide an intimidating presence and will spark energy with his physicality.

The second thing Nashville needs to do is keep Rocco Grimaldi in the lineup. In his one playoff game this season, he scored one goal in 9:47 time on ice. By no means is Grimaldi the biggest player or most skilled, but he has been playing well all season and has shown that he can be a big factor in the playoffs in the one game he played (the same game the Predators won).

The final thing that the Predators need to do to win the series is to utilize Brian Boyle and Wayne Simmonds more. With Simmonds average time on ice being 7:29 and Boyle being placed in the bottom two lines, the new additions could be useful in larger roles. Both players are physical and were highly sought after talent for the playoffs, but the Predators are limiting their role.

Both players could serve as beneficial in the top two or three lines spreading the toughness into every line of the Predators lineup. Dallas lacks in physicality and if Nashville delivers some hits and gets Dallas off the game, the Predators will control the series.