The Nashville Predators have been a team that has to play in a flow the last few seasons, and nothing breaks that up like the Olympics.
When players return from the once-in-four-year international tournament, the NHL season will get back underway after almost a month off the ice. It might turn out to be Andrew Brunette's biggest test as a coach.
The Predators have recovered from a disaster of a start this season and, at the Olympic break, sit on a record of 26-24-7 for 59 points. That puts them in 5th place in the Central Division, but only 4 points back of a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.