2015–16 Nashville Predators season

2015–16 Nashville Predators
Division	4th Central
Conference	7th Western
2015–16 record	41–27–14
Home record	23–11–7
Road record	18–16–7
Goals for	228
Goals against	215
Team information
General manager	David Poile
Coach	Peter Laviolette
Captain	Shea Weber
Alternate captains	Mike Fisher Roman Josi James Neal
Arena	Bridgestone Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)	Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Filip Forsberg (33)
Assists	Roman Josi (47)
Points	Filip Forsberg (64)
Penalty minutes	Barret Jackman (76)
Plus/minus	James Neal (+27)
Wins	Pekka Rinne (34)
Goals against average	Carter Hutton (2.33)

The 2015–16 Nashville Predators season was the 18th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. It was also the first time that the Predators played in a game 7 in a playoff series.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

2015 Pre-Season Game Log: 3–2–1 (Home: 2–1–1 ; Road: 1–1–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Recap
1	September 20	Florida	2–5	Nashville		Hutton	15,432	1–0–0	Recap
2	September 20	Florida	3–2	Nashville	OT	Saros	12,711	1–0–1	Recap
3	September 22	Nashville	3–2	Tampa Bay	OT	Hutton	14,324	2–0–1	Recap
4	September 23	Tampa Bay	2–5	Nashville		Rinne	14,186	3–0–1	Recap
5	September 29	Columbus	5–2	Nashville		Hutton	16,027	3–1–1	Recap
6	October 3	Nashville	1–7	Columbus		Rinne	13,795	3–2–1	Recap

Regular season

2015–16 Game Log
October: 7–1–2 (Home: 4–0–1 ; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Carolina 1–2 Nashville Rinne 17,204 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 10 Edmonton 0–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 13 Nashville 3–1 New Jersey Rinne 11,117 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 15 Nashville 3–4 NY Islanders Rinne 10,542 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 17 Nashville 4–3 Ottawa SO Hutton 16,895 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 20 Tampa Bay 4–5 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 5–1–0 10 Recap 7 October 22 Anaheim 1–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 6–1–0 12 Recap 8 October 24 Pittsburgh 2–1 Nashville OT Rinne 17,163 6–1–1 13 Recap 9 October 28 Nashville 2–1 San Jose Rinne 15,219 7–1–1 15 Recap 10 October 31 Nashville 3–4 Los Angeles OT Rinne 18,230 7–1–2 16 Recap
November: 5–6–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 1 Nashville 2–4 Anaheim Hutton 16,276 7–2–2 16 Recap 12 November 5 Nashville 3–2 Minnesota Rinne 19,024 8–2–2 18 Recap 13 November 7 St. Louis 4–0 Nashville Rinne 17,143 8–3–2 18 Recap 14 November 10 Ottawa 5–7 Nashville Rinne 16,963 9–3–2 20 Recap 15 November 12 Toronto 2–1 Nashville SO Rinne 17,231 9–3–3 21 Recap 16 November 14 Winnipeg 0–7 Nashville Rinne 17,113 10–3–3 23 Recap 17 November 17 Anaheim 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 11–3–3 25 Recap 18 November 20 Nashville 0–4 Columbus Rinne 13,584 11–4–3 25 Recap 19 November 21 Nashville 0–4 Minnesota Rinne 19,056 11–5–3 25 Recap 20 November 23 Nashville 0–3 NY Rangers Rinne 18,006 11–6–3 25 Recap 21 November 25 Nashville 3–2 Buffalo Hutton 17,871 12–6–3 27 Recap 22 November 27 Nashville 2–3 Philadelphia OT Rinne 19,818 12–6–4 28 Recap 23 November 28 Buffalo 4–1 Nashville Saros 17,217 12–7–4 28 Recap
December: 6–6–3 (Home: 5–3–1 ; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 1 Arizona 2–5 Nashville Rinne 15,091 13–7–4 30 Recap 25 December 3 Florida 2–1 Nashville Rinne 15,405 13–8–4 30 Recap 26 December 5 Nashville 4–5 Detroit OT Rinne 20,027 13–8–5 31 Recap 27 December 7 Nashville 3–2 Boston Hutton 17,565 14–8–5 33 Recap 28 December 8 Nashville 1–4 Chicago Rinne 21,432 14–9–5 33 Recap 29 December 10 Chicago 1–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 15–9–5 35 Recap 30 December 12 Colorado 3–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 15–10–5 35 Recap 31 December 15 Calgary 2–1 Nashville OT Rinne 15,431 15–10–6 36 Recap 32 December 17 Nashville 1–2 St. Louis Rinne 17,882 15–11–6 36 Recap 33 December 19 Minnesota 2–3 Nashville Rinne 17,117 16–11–6 38 Recap 34 December 21 Montreal 1–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 17–11–6 40 Recap 35 December 26 Detroit 3–2 Nashville Rinne 17,208 17–12–6 40 Recap 36 December 28 NY Rangers 3–5 Nashville Rinne 17,317 18–12–6 42 Recap 37 December 29 Nashville 3–4 St. Louis OT Hutton 19,319 18–12–7 43 Recap 38 December 31 Nashville 1–5 Dallas Rinne 18,532 18–13–7 43 Recap
January: 6–5–1 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 5–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Nashville 2–1 Carolina OT Rinne 12,149 19–13–7 45 Recap 40 January 5 Winnipeg 4–1 Nashville Rinne 17,113 19–14–7 45 Recap 41 January 8 Nashville 3–5 Colorado Rinne 17,680 19–15–7 45 Recap 42 January 9 Nashville 0–4 Arizona Hutton 12,345 19–16–7 45 Recap 43 January 12 Nashville 2–3 Chicago Rinne 21,618 19–17–7 45 Recap 44 January 14 Nashville 4–5 Winnipeg OT Rinne 15,294 19–17–8 46 Recap 45 January 16 Minnesota 0–3 Nashville Hutton 17,302 20–17–8 48 Recap 46 January 19 Chicago 4–1 Nashville Rinne 17,122 20–18–8 48 Recap 47 January 21 Nashville 4–1 Winnipeg Rinne 15,294 21–18–8 50 Recap 48 January 23 Nashville 4–1 Edmonton Rinne 16,839 22–18–8 52 Recap 49 January 26 Nashville 2–1 Vancouver Rinne 18,570 23–18–8 54 Recap 50 January 27 Nashville 2–1 Calgary Hutton 19,289 24–18–8 56 Recap
February: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–3–2 ; Road: 4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 St. Louis 1–0 Nashville Rinne 16,045 24–19–8 56 Recap 52 February 4 Philadelphia 6–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 24–20–8 56 Recap 53 February 6 San Jose 2–6 Nashville Rinne 17,192 25–20–8 58 Recap 54 February 9 Washington 5–3 Nashville Rinne 17,113 25–21–8 58 Recap 55 February 12 Nashville 3–4 Tampa Bay OT Rinne 19,092 25–21–9 59 Recap 56 February 13 Nashville 5–0 Florida Hutton 13,019 26–21–9 61 Recap 57 February 15 Dallas 3–2 Nashville OT Hutton 17,113 26–21–10 62 Recap 58 February 18 Boston 0–2 Nashville Rinne 17,113 27–21–10 64 Recap 59 February 20 Los Angeles 2–1 Nashville OT Rinne 17,369 27–21–11 65 Recap 60 February 22 Nashville 2–1 Montreal SO Rinne 21,288 28–21–11 67 Recap 61 February 23 Nashville 3–2 Toronto Hutton 18,844 29–21–11 69 Recap 62 February 25 Nashville 3–1 Chicago Rinne 22,058 30–21–11 71 Recap 63 February 27 St. Louis 0–5 Nashville Rinne 17,379 31–21–11 73 Recap
March: 8–5–2 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 3–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Dallas 3–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 32–21–11 75 Recap 65 March 3 New Jersey 5–4 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 32–21–12 76 Recap 66 March 5 Nashville 5–2 Colorado Rinne 17,165 33–21–12 78 Recap 67 March 8 Nashville 4–2 Winnipeg Rinne 15,294 34–21–12 80 Recap 68 March 9 Nashville 2–3 Calgary OT Hutton 19,289 34–21–13 81 Recap 69 March 12 Nashville 2–4 Vancouver Rinne 18,898 34–22–13 81 Recap 70 March 14 Nashville 3–2 Edmonton Rinne 16,839 35–22–13 83 Recap 71 March 17 NY Islanders 2–4 Nashville Rinne 17,113 36–22–13 85 Recap 72 March 18 Nashville 1–4 Washington Hutton 18,506 36–23–13 85 Recap 73 March 21 Los Angeles 2–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 37–23–13 87 Recap 74 March 24 Vancouver 2–3 Nashville SO Rinne 17,113 38–23–13 89 Recap 75 March 26 Columbus 1–5 Nashville Rinne 17,113 39–23–13 91 Recap 76 March 28 Colorado 4–3 Nashville Hutton 16,443 39–24–13 91 Recap 77 March 29 Nashville 2–5 Dallas Rinne 18,265 39–25–13 91 Recap 78 March 31 Nashville 2–5 Pittsburgh Rinne 18,560 39–26–13 91 Recap
April: 2–1–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 San Jose 3–2 Nashville SO Hutton 17,113 39–26–14 92 Recap 80 April 5 Colorado 3–4 Nashville Rinne 17,113 40–26–14 94 Recap 81 April 7 Arizona 2–3 Nashville OT Rinne 17,113 41–26–14 96 Recap 82 April 9 Nashville 2–3 Dallas Hutton 18,532 41–27–14 96 Recap
Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

Summary

First round: Anaheim

After trailing 2-1 in the second period, the Predators opened their playoff run with a 3-2 victory over the Ducks. The Predators took a 2-0 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory over the Ducks. Back home in Nashville for Game 3, the Predators were shut out in a 3-0 loss and the Ducks pushed the series to 2-1. The Ducks evened the series in a 4-1 victory in Game 4. The Ducks pulled to a one-game lead over the Predators with a 5-2 victory in Game 5. Back in Nashville for Game 6, the Predators kept the series alive with a 3-1 victory over the Ducks. The Predators scored two goals in the first period and held off a late rally by the Ducks to win Game 7 2-1 and advance on to the Western Conference semifinals.

Second round: San Jose

Despite scoring the first goal, the Predators fell 5-2 to the Sharks in Game 1 of the second round. The Predators fell to a two-game deficit in a 3-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 2. After allowing a power play goal in the first period, the Predators scored four unanswered goals – including two on power plays – to take Game 3. A third overtime goal by Mike Fisher gave the Predators a 4-3 victory in Game 4 and evened the series at two games a piece. The Predators fell 5-1 to the Sharks in Game 5. Despite trailing two goals in the first period of Game 6, the Predators rallied back to tie the game in the third period and score the winning goal in overtime to force a Game 7, which they lost 5–0.

Player stats

Final stats

Skaters

Regular Season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Forsberg, FilipFilip Forsberg 82 33 31 64 1 47 Josi, RomanRoman Josi 81 14 47 61 −3 43 Neal, JamesJames Neal 82 31 27 58 27 65 Weber, SheaShea Weber 78 20 31 51 −7 27 Ribeiro, MikeMike Ribeiro 81 7 43 50 11 62 Smith, CraigCraig Smith 82 21 16 37 4 40 Ekholm, MattiasMattias Ekholm 82 8 27 35 14 44 Johansen, RyanRyan Johansen † || 42 || 8 || 26 || 34 || 10 || 36 Ellis, RyanRyan Ellis 79 10 22 32 13 35 Jarnkrok, CalleCalle Jarnkrok 81 16 14 30 1 14 Wilson, ColinColin Wilson 64 6 18 24 −1 14 Fisher, MikeMike Fisher 70 13 10 23 −14 29 Arvidsson, ViktorViktor Arvidsson 56 8 8 16 −8 35 Jones, SethSeth Jones ‡ || 40 || 1 || 10 || 11 || −5 || 10 Salomaki, MiikkaMiikka Salomaki 61 5 5 10 −1 28 Watson, AustinAustin Watson 57 3 7 10 −4 32 Hodgson, CodyCody Hodgson 39 3 5 8 2 6 Nystrom, EricEric Nystrom 46 7 0 7 −6 20 Sissons, ColtonColton Sissons 34 4 2 6 5 12 Gaustad, PaulPaul Gaustad 63 2 4 6 −4 46 Bitetto, AnthonyAnthony Bitetto 28 1 5 6 0 19 Jackman, BarretBarret Jackman 73 1 4 5 1 76 Bourque, GabrielGabriel Bourque 22 1 3 4 0 18 Granberg, PetterPetter Granberg 27 0 2 2 1 13 Fiala, KevinKevin Fiala 5 1 0 1 0 0 Bass, CodyCody Bass 17 0 0 0 −1 17 Bartley, VictorVictor Bartley ‡ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || −1 || 0 Elliott, StefanStefan Elliott † || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || −1 || 0 Potter, CoreyCorey Potter 1 0 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM Wilson, ColinColin Wilson 14 5 8 13 8 0 Josi, RomanRoman Josi 14 1 8 9 –6 12 Neal, JamesJames Neal 14 4 4 8 1 8 Johansen, RyanRyan Johansen 14 4 4 8 0 16 Fisher, MikeMike Fisher 14 5 2 7 –1 2 Weber, SheaShea Weber 14 3 4 7 −7 18 Ekholm, MattiasMattias Ekholm 14 3 4 7 2 4 Ellis, RyanRyan Ellis 14 0 6 6 0 4 Forsberg, FilipFilip Forsberg 14 2 2 4 –11 2 Ribeiro, MikeMike Ribeiro 12 0 2 2 –3 16 Smith, CraigCraig Smith 11 1 1 2 1 4 Salomaki, MiikkaMiikka Salomaki 14 1 1 2 2 6 Arvidsson, ViktorViktor Arvidsson 14 1 1 2 –3 8 Gaustad, PaulPaul Gaustad 14 1 0 1 0 0 Jarnkrok, CalleCalle Jarnkrok 14 0 1 1 –5 4 Jackman, BarretBarret Jackman 14 0 0 0 1 22 Nystrom, EricEric Nystrom 1 0 0 0 0 2 Bass, CodyCody Bass 6 0 0 0 –2 2 Bitetto, AnthonyAnthony Bitetto 14 0 0 0 1 6 Aberg, PontusPontus Aberg 2 0 0 0 0 0 Sissons, ColtonColton Sissons 10 0 0 0 –1 8

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Rinne, PekkaPekka Rinne	66	66	3895:22	34	21	10	161	2.48	1744	.908	4	0	2	6
Hutton, CarterCarter Hutton	17	15	978:56	7	5	4	38	2.33	464	.918	2	0	1	0
Saros, JuuseJuuse Saros	1	1	58:01	0	1	0	3	3.10	23	.870	0	0	0	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Rinne, PekkaPekka Rinne	14	14	866	7	7	38	2.63	404	.906	0	0	1	0
Hutton, CarterCarter Hutton	3	0	20	0	0	1	3.00	3	.667	0	0	0	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Predators. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Predators only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular Season Player Award Awarded Weber, S.S. Weber NHL Second Star of the Week December 7, 2015 Weber, S.S. Weber NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 Josi, R.R. Josi NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 Rinne, P.P. Rinne NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 Neal, J.J. Neal NHL All-Star game replacement selection January 28, 2016

Milestones

Regular Season Player Milestone Reached Arvidsson, V.V. Arvidsson 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point October 8, 2015 Hodgson, C.C. Hodgson 300th Career NHL Game November 1, 2015 Weber, S.S. Weber 400th Career NHL Point November 10, 2015 S. Weber 700th Career NHL Game November 12, 2015 Jarnkrok, C.C. Jarnkrok 100th Career NHL Game November 12, 2015 Josi, R.R. Josi 100th Career NHL Assist November 17, 2015 Neal, J.J. Neal 500th Career NHL Game November 23, 2015 Rinne, P.P. Rinne 400th Career NHL Game November 27, 2015 Smith, C.C. Smith 300th Career NHL Game November 28, 2015

Transactions

The Predators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season.

Trades Date Details Ref July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) To Calgary Flames Conditional 4th-round pick in 2016 To Nashville Predators Max Reinhart July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) To New York Rangers Magnus Hellberg To Nashville Predators 6th-round pick in 2017 July 12, 2015 (2015-07-12) To Toronto Maple Leafs Taylor Beck To Nashville Predators Jamie Devane January 6, 2016 (2016-01-06) To Columbus Blue Jackets Seth Jones To Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen January 14, 2016 (2016-01-14) To Ottawa Senators Conor Allen To Nashville Predators Patrick Mullen January 15, 2016 (2016-01-15) To Arizona Coyotes Victor Bartley To Nashville Predators Stefan Elliott February 29, 2016 (2016-02-29) To Arizona Coyotes Future considerations To Nashville Predators Corey Potter June 20, 2016 (2016-06-20) To Buffalo Sabres Jimmy Vesey (rights) To Nashville Predators MIN's 3rd-round pick in 2016 Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) Barret Jackman St. Louis Blues 2 year, $4 million July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) Cody Hodgson Buffalo Sabres 1 year, $1.05 million July 2, 2015 (2015-07-02) Conor Allen New York Rangers 1 year, $575,000 July 4, 2015 (2015-07-04) Cody Bass Rockford IceHogs 1 year, $575,000 January 5, 2016 (2016-01-05) Frederick Gaudreau Milwaukee Admirals 2 years, entry-level contract April 21, 2016 (2016-04-21) Adam Payerl Milwaukee Admirals 1 year, $575,000 June 1, 2016 (2016-06-01) Jonas Gunnarsson Malmo Redhawks 1 year, entry-level contract Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) Viktor Stalberg New York Rangers 1 year, $1.1 million July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) Joe Piskula Anaheim Ducks 1 year, $600,000 August 6, 2015 (2015-08-06) Matt Cullen Pittsburgh Penguins 1 year, $800,000 August 17, 2015 Mike Santorelli Anaheim Ducks 1 year, $875,000 September 10, 2015 Cody Franson Buffalo Sabres 2 years, $6.65 million Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Petter Granberg Toronto Maple Leafs November 22, 2015 Lost via waivers Player New team Date Player signings Date Player Contract terms (in U.S. dollars) Ref June 26, 2015 (2015-06-26) Mike Fisher 2 years, $8.8 million June 29, 2015 (2015-06-29) Austin Watson 2 years, $1.15 million July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01) Mike Ribeiro 2 years, $7 million July 2, 2015 (2015-07-02) Gabriel Bourque 1 year, $866,250 July 2, 2015 (2015-07-02) Max Reinhart 1 year, $575,000 July 10, 2015 (2015-07-10) Vladislav Kamenev 3 years, entry-level contract July 10, 2015 (2015-07-10) Yakov Trenin 3 years, entry-level contract July 13, 2015 (2015-07-13) Anthony Bitetto 1 year, $665,500 July 16, 2015 (2015-07-16) Taylor Aronson 1 year, $605,000 July 17, 2015 (2015-07-17) Calle Jarnkrok 1 year, $735,000 July 20, 2015 (2015-07-20) Craig Smith 5 years, $21.25 million July 24, 2015 (2015-07-24) Jack Dougherty 3 years, entry-level contract July 27, 2015 (2015-07-27) Colin Wilson 4 years, $15.75 million October 26, 2015 (2015-10-26) Mattias Ekholm 6 years, $22.5 million contract extension November 12, 2015 (2015-11-12) Alexandre Carrier 3 years, entry-level contract February 22, 2016 (2016-02-22) Colton Sissons 3 years, $1.875 million contract extension February 26, 2016 (2016-02-26) Anthony Bitetto 2 years, $1.225 million contract extension March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01) Miikka Salomaki 2 years, $1.225 million contract extension May 16, 2016 (2016-05-16) Justin Kirkland 3 years, entry-level contract June 1, 2016 (2016-06-01) Cody Bass 2 years, $1.225 million contract extension June 13, 2016 (2016-06-13) Marek Mazanec 1 year, $575,000 Draft picks See also: List of Nashville Predators draft picks Below are the Nashville Predators' selections at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, that was held on June 26–27, 2015 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League) 2 55 Iakov Trenin C  Russia Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) 3 85 Thomas Novak C  United States Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) 4 100[a] Anthony Richards C  Canada Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) 4 115 Alexandre Carrier D  Canada Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) 5 145 Karel Vejmelka G  Czech Republic HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czech U20) 6 175 Tyler Moy C  Canada Harvard University (NCAA) 7 205 Evan Smith G  United States Austin Bruins (NAHL) Draft notes The Nashville Predators' first-round pick was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs (later sent Philadelphia) as the result of a trade on February 15, 2015, that sent Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville in exchange for Olli Jokinen, Brendan Leipsic and this pick. a  The San Jose Sharks' fourth-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 28, 2014, that sent Detroit's second-round pick in 2014 to San Jose in exchange for a second-round pick in 2014 and this pick. References Nashville Predators Franchise • Players • Coaches • GMs • Seasons • Records • Draft picks • Sommet Center • Milwaukee Admirals • New Mexico Scorpions