The Nashville Predators were one of the bigger surprises heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a 16-0-2 run during the regular season helped them lock down a wild-card spot.
Unfortunately, that fairytale run was shortlived as the Vancouver Canucks picked up the series win with a 1-0 victory in Game 6.
The Predators had their chances to take advantage of the Canucks, who had to rely on their third-string goaltender and some of their star players not firing on all cylinders.
The team couldn’t help but feel like it was a missed opportunity, especially with a chance to extend the series to a Game 7.
“Yeah, obviously. You know, it’s a close game is there for us. They beat us, it’s unfortunate, and disappointing,” said forward Ryan O’Reilly. “As you get older and you feel like you piss away a season. It’s frustrating, but it’s it is what it is. They have a better team. They beat us.”
O’Reilly is in his first season with the Predators after signing a four-year, $18 million deal last off-season.
He had a productive regular season where he was second on the team in goals with 26 and fourth in points with 69.
Unfortunately, that production didn’t carry over to the post-season, with the 33-year-old registering two points.
“I know for myself it’s extremely frustrating. I thought I was terrible in the series and didn’t generate anything,” O’Reilly said when asked about his team’s inability to get past the Canucks, “It’s tough to win. I have to find a way to generate more, put the puck in the nets and other guys feel that too. It’s tough.”
While the Predators will lament the missed opportunity, O’Reilly was still proud of what the team was able to accomplish and has something to build off of.
“I think we found an identity. I think we did find something there and would have liked to be more consistent with it,” O’Reilly said. “There is something here to build on and I think we could’ve gone on a lot farther and give it a better chance. But there is an identity here that, hopefully, this group can stay together and we can improve.”