It’s been a tough eighteen years for the fans of the Nashville Predators. Starting NHL play in 1998, the Predators did not qualify for postseason play their first five seasons, and when they finally did, in 2004, they were knocked out in the first round by Detroit. After the lockout, Nashville qualified three consecutive years, only to be eliminated in the first round each time, by San Jose twice and then Detroit, in 2008.
The Preds missed the playoffs in 2009 but rebounded the following year, before suffering another opening-round loss, this time to Chicago. Nashville would advance the next two seasons to the conference semifinals, defeating Anaheim for their first series victory but losing to Vancouver in 2011.