As Nashville entered a pivotal Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks sans top centers Ryan Johansen and captain Mike Fisher, the feeling surrounding the team was one that trended less towards optimism and more towards “well, glad we made it this far.”
Yet, as we sit here and reflect on what happened Saturday night in Anaheim, it’s safe to say that none of us could have truthfully predicted the course of events. Not even you, guy who said Pontus Aberg would score the game-winner.
With Johansen and Fisher out, Peter Laviolette’s resolve would firmly be tested. Could he restructure Nashville’s lines and still pull out a win against a Ducks core that was chomping at the bit?