The playoffs begin on Friday, Feb. 15, when the team hosts the Lindsay Muskies for Game 1 of their best of five East Division quarter-final series. The Predators fell short of their goal of finishing in one of the top two spots in the division (thus earning a bye in the first round), but they still have cause for optimism as they head into the playoffs.

"I feel we're ready," said Coach Brian Drumm.

Featuring newcomers like goaltender Billy Stone, defenceman Anthony Gauthier, speedster Joe Christiano, as well as the return to the team of hold-out Andrew Taylor, the club charged down the stretch, moving up from fourth spot in the East while challenging for and briefly holding second. Third place earned them a first-round date with the Lindsay Muskies, and although the Preds dominated the season series 6-1 (outscoring the Muskies 29-14), they don't expect a cake walk.

"Lindsay is going to give us a tough time," said Drumm. "(Bret) Meyers is a good coach and he's got them playing well. They had a very good second half."

Aside from being the Muskies head coach, Meyers is also a former Port Hope coach, and even worked as an assistant coach with Drumm during their time with the Cobourg Cougars. Port Hope fans will no doubt remember Sept. 14, 2007, a night when the two teams were involved in an ugly brawl that resulted in suspensions for players on both sides and one for Drumm himself. But with numerous changes to the rosters on both teams since the early part of the season, neither Drumm nor General Manager Tim Clayden expect it to be a factor in the series.

"It'll be heated because they want to win and we want to win," said Drumm. "There's no history left from September."

"It's irrelevant," added Clayden. "It's a whole new season."

As for what the Preds will have to do to advance to the next round, "We can't afford to take a night off," said Clayden. "Any one of (the six) playoff teams can win the East."

The Preds may get an unlikely assist in the series from striking municipal workers in Kawartha Lakes. A union representing 400 workers within and around Lindsay has been on strike since Feb. 4, which has shut down numerous services and necessitated that Lindsay play their home games in Minden, instead of at their home rink. The Muskies may miss the friendly confines of home, but the extra travel time won't bother the Predators.

"We welcome (the travel)," said Clayden. "Our guys like each other and they like spending time on the bus. Road trips are a big part of junior hockey and they're a lot of fun."