The View From Wisconsin

Did you ever have one of those moments in your life where you finally found the one thing that was missing?

You'd been going along for all of your life, and knew you were missing something, but you weren't quite sure what.

Then, suddenly, one day, you meet this person - and your life is changed forever.

All of a sudden, everything starts going right for you. No matter what you do, you can't help but succeed.

And it's all because this person made you better than your were before - better all around.

That, my friends, is what Paul Kariya means to the Predators.

He makes everyone else on the team... better.

Which is scary, because the guys on this roster were pretty darn good to begin with.

But think about it: without Paul Kariya, the Predators would be skating into Phoenix tonight possibly staring down a very dismal 0-3 start.

And yet, for a simple game-tying goal last Wednesday, a brilliant move in the shootout on Saturday, and a goal with two assists last night - the Predators are 3-0 at the start of a season for the first time in franchise history.

This team refuses to lose.

And it all starts with him.

Paul Kariya.

I don't think the Predators front office, the coaching staff, or anyone else in the franchise thought that Paul was the "one thing" they were missing.

But...

Three wins.

A new attitude.

And a great start in the "new NHL."

Those prognosticators that said the Predators might be able to contend for the Central Division title?

They might be wrong. They might have underestimated us.

We've got what's missing now.

That one thing that's the difference between a playoff contender...

and a you-know-what contender.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know - it's October. You don't win the Cup in October.

Every journey starts somewhere, though - and this one is off to a really great start.

And it's all because we've found the one thing we were missing.

He's missing no more.