from Gentry Estes of The Tennessean,

The Nashville Predators weren’t supposed to be any good this season, so now that it’s playing out that way, I wonder why anyone is surprised.

But I know why.

It’s because these rebuilding Predators, for much of the season, didn’t look like a rebuilding team. They became fun to watch under first-year coach Andrew Brunette. They played hard and fast, and while overachieving, kept acting and speaking as if it was no shock to them. Like they knew something about themselves the rest of the NHL did not.

They believed, and that made others believe in them.

Belief is powerful. But fragile. It’ll shatter for teams, and when it does, it’s easy to tell.

This past week with the Predators, it has been easy to tell.

Thursday’s 9-2 blowout loss to the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena was one of the most pitiful performances in franchise history. The Stars scored three times before the Predators’ first shot on goal. At the end of the first period, Dallas had 18 shots to Nashville’s one.

“Embarrassed at home,” captain Roman Josi said.

“Weren’t ready to play,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh added.

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