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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can forgive Predators fans these days if they\u2019re feeling a bit like passengers in a plane piloted by Harrison Ford.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sure, it\u2019s been a thrilling ride this season, one that for a time looked like it might be the best in franchise history. But during the past few weeks this team has hit some serious chop. The Preds are off to a miserable 2\u20137 start this month and have just two wins to show for their past 11 games.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The crash hasn\u2019t devastated them in the standings. Even after blowing third-period leads and losing to the Ducks on Sunday and the Wild on Tuesday, Nashville lags only one point behind Anaheim and St. Louis for the Western Conference lead. But the slump has cost them their lead in that race as well as in the Central Division. And maybe more important, it has stalled their momentum.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And the timing couldn\u2019t be worse. Because, all things being equal, March is a lousy month to go cold.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For a team with championship aspirations it\u2019s not just important to enter the playoffs on a roll. It\u2019s almost imperative. Consider the records of Stanley Cup finalists going back to the 2005-06 season, the first one after the 2004\u201305 lockout and the major&amp;nbsp;changes it brought to the game. Virtually every team, outside of the tandem of Chicago and Philadelphia in 2009\u201310, hit the home stretch at a full gallop. Check out the chart. Five recent Cup winners banked at least 10 wins and 20 points in March, including the 2014 champion Kings. Cumulatively, the past nine champions went a combined 82-36-14 during that month, a solid .667 points percentage. The runners-up were slightly stronger at 81-37-16 (.674).\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Of course it\u2019s not just about the wins. It\u2019s about indications that a team has the potential to maintain its altitude ... or not.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When you look at the Preds, it\u2019s easy to spot the warning signs.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Goalie&amp;nbsp;Pekka Rinne, a viable Hart Trophy candidate coming out of the All-Star break, is just 2\u20135 with a GAA of 2.37 and a .909 save percentage in eight games this month, well off his season totals of 2.11 and .926. The power play, which had been on an 0-for-17 slide before connecting in two of Nashville's last three games, is a stagnant mess of individual players making individual plays. The five-on-five offense has gone cold, as have many of the team\u2019s key producers. Filip Forsberg has just five points in his past 17 games and hasn\u2019t scored a goal in 11. Mike Ribeiro has one goal in his past 12 and five points in his past nine. Colin Wilson has one point in his past 13, despite a promotion to the first line. Shea Weber has two points in his past 15.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But the biggest concern may be a defense that\u2019s struggling with the zone coverage and breakouts that came so easily earlier this season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And the Preds aren\u2019t the only contenders with engine trouble. It was just a couple of weeks back that the Islanders looked like a decent bet to come out of the East. But they\u2019ve hit their own pockets of turbulence this month, going 2-4-2 to cough up top spot in the Metropolitan and fall five points behind the surging Rangers, who have four games in hand.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As in Nashville, the instrument panel on Long Island is flashing red. The offense has gone ice cold, scoring just a single goal in each of the team\u2019s past four games and creating few challenges for opposing goalies down low. The Isles have dropped four straight at home, where at&amp;nbsp;23-8-0 they were gobbling points at an efficiency that rivaled their 1981-82 Cup championship team. They cough up leads like fur balls and struggle to finish off close games. Their 28th-ranked penalty kill is hemorrhaging goals and their power play can\u2019t get them back.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Montreal\u2019s 2-4-2 mark is raising eyebrows as well, despite the Canadiens having faced a murderer\u2019s row of opponents and a road-heavy schedule so far this month. This is a team that is consistently on its heels defensively and was out-possessed at even-strength in 11 straight games before the desperation of a three-goal deficit tilted that small battle their way in Monday night\u2019s 3\u20132 loss to Tampa. If not for the peerless play of goalie Carey Price, things could be even worse for the Habs.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What's happened to these teams? There are a number of factors in play, starting with injuries. Rinne hasn't been the same since returning from a knee injury and might be dealing with lingering mobility issues. First line winger Kyle Okposo&amp;nbsp;finally&amp;nbsp;returned&amp;nbsp;to the Islanders after weeks on the sideline with a detached retina, but is scoreless and \u20137 in his first five games back while the team deals with the absence of top-pairing defenseman Nick Leddy (upper body)&amp;nbsp;and starting goalie Jaroslav&amp;nbsp;Halak (lower body).&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Isles may also be struggling with the pressure of being targeted by opponents looking to measure up ahead of the playoffs. Or it might be a case of finally being figured out by foes who have made adjustments after studying their system all season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ultimately, it may be some combination of all three.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At least Montreal has the time and opportunity to climb out of its nosedive before the month is over. The Canadiens\u2019&amp;nbsp;remaining seven games feature just two opponents that are currently in a playoff spot, although that won\u2019t matter much if they can\u2019t figure out how to spend less time chasing the puck, finish more often when they have it and take some pressure off Price, who has looked frighteningly (but understandably) human in his last two outings.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And it won\u2019t even be that easy for the other two clubs on the skids. While the Predators play five-of-seven at Bridgestone Arena, where they\u2019ve enjoyed considerable success this season, six of their opponents are in playoff position. It\u2019s even worse for the Isles, whose final six matchups feature the Blackhawks, Wild, Kings, Ducks and Red Wings. Their only non-playoff opponent, New Jersey, is 9-3-2 in its past 14.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Last season's Maple Leafs were a total stretch drive buswreck that went from playoff position on March 10 into a 3-13 skid that left them on the golf course, but it's&amp;nbsp;still possible for a team to pull out of a dive at the last minute\u2014the 2010 Blackhawks recovered to go 5-0-1 in April on their way to the title\u2014but history shows that it\u2019s far better to pull hard on the throttle as March roars into April.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\nCup finalists' records in March\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t1Los Angeles Kings\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tCup champ:&amp;nbsp;2013-14\r\n\r\n\t11\u20134\u20130\r\n\r\n\tTrade deadline acquisition of Marian Gaborik&amp;nbsp;sparks lethargic offense.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t2New York Rangers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t9\u20136\u20131\r\n\r\n\tStarted March on a three-game skid but ended the month on a 6-1-0 roll that included two shutouts.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t3Chicago Blackhawks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2012-13\r\n\r\n\t9\u20135\u20130\r\n\r\n\tRode record start (points in first 24 games) in lockout shortened schedule. First team to clinch berth (4/7).\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t4Boston Bruins\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t9\u20136\u20132\r\n\r\n\tHad three two-game losing streaks in March; survived three losses to rival Montreal.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t5Los Angeles Kings\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2011-12\r\n\r\n\t10\u20134\u20131\r\n\r\n\tTorrid 10-4-1 finish enabled them to grab eighth seed with win on final day. Became first No. 8 to win the Cup.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t6New Jersey Devils\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t10\u20135\u20132\r\n\r\n\tHad two two-game losing streaks; rode superb special teams to sixth seed in East. Clinched berth on 3/31.\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t7Boston Bruins\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2010-11\r\n\r\n\t7\u20134\u20134\r\n\r\n\tWon seven straight from 2/17 to 3/3, then dropped four in a row, their longest losing streak of the season.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t8Vancouver Canucks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWestern champ\r\n\r\n\t13\u20132\u20130\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;Tight defense, goalie Roberto Luongo held their opposition to one goal or fewer in&amp;nbsp;nine of their victories.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t9Chicago Blackhawks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2009-10\r\n\r\n\t6\u20137-2\r\n\r\n\tAn excellent deal at the deadline (adding defensemen Nick Leddy and Kim Johnsson for blueliner Cam Barker) offered little help short term but paid off in the long run.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t10Philadelphia Flyers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t6\u20137\u20133\r\n\r\n\tRequired a shootout victory in their season finale to qualify for the playoffs.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t11Pittsburgh Penguins\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2008-09\r\n\r\n\t10\u20131\u20132\r\n\r\n\tAcquired winger Chris Kunitz just ahead of the trade deadline. He produced 13 points in his first 14 games.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t12Detroit Red Wings\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWestern champ\r\n\r\n\t8\u20134\u20131\r\n\r\n\tMarch cushion helped them survive a late swoon during which they won two of their final eight games.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t13Detroit Red Wings\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2007-08\r\n\r\n\t10\u20132-1\r\n\r\n\tRebounded nicely from a brutal February stretch that saw them lose 10 of 11.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t14Pittsburgh Penguins\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t10\u20134\u20131\r\n\r\n\tOffense caught fire, scoring at least seven goals in three of Pittsburgh\u2019s&amp;nbsp;10 wins that month.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t15Anaheim Ducks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2006-07\r\n\r\n\t10\u20134\u20132\r\n\r\n\tWent 6-1-1 on a season-high eight-game home stand to power their strong finish.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t16Ottawa Senators\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tEastern champ\r\n\r\n\t9\u20132\u20134\r\n\r\n\tSniper&amp;nbsp;Dany Heatley led the team with 10 goals in 15 March games.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t17Carolina Hurricanes\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tcup champ:&amp;nbsp;2005-06\r\n\r\n\t9\u20135\u20132\r\n\r\n\tSet the tone by winning first four games of the month, scoring 18 goals in the process.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t18Edmonton Oilers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWestern champ\r\n\r\n\t7\u20135\u20134\r\n\r\n\tAcquisition of goaltender Dwayne Roloson at the trade deadline provided a reliable anchor for a run that took them to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/nhl/2015/03/16/beware-slides-march>