More than two months had passed since Predators forward Austin Watson played an NHL game, time spent re-centering his life after violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Sure, Watson did his best to stay in shape while going through alcohol rehab.

Sure, he’d skated for a couple of weeks since the league reinstated him, even playing a couple of productive games with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

But not even Preds coach Peter Laviolette knew exactly what to expect when Watson returned to the Nashville lineup Tuesday in Buffalo, playing in his first game since Jan. 23.

“I think there’s always a question,” Laviolette said, “when somebody comes out of the lineup, or somebody gets injured for a couple of months.”

Players often compare their return to the game — following a significant absence — to “catching a moving train,” and in Watson’s case, he was trying to leap on at the very last stop, just before the Preds chug into the playoffs next week.

But if there was any doubt as to whether Watson would return with the same hell-bent playing style that’s endeared him to Nashville fans over the years, it was erased with a pair of defensive plays late in the third period of the Preds’ 3-2 victory over the Sabres.

The first occurred with the Preds under pressure in their own zone, desperately looking for a breather. That’s when Watson laid out face-first near the blue line and tapped a puck into the neutral zone, giving his teammates precious seconds to re-organize.

The second took place with less than two minutes left in the contest, as Buffalo pressed for a tying goal. Spying Buffalo defenseman Casey Nelson winding up for a slapshot at the point, Watson took off from the sideboards, sliding in front of the blast and taking a puck off his leg as a reward.

Shot blocked, chance nullified, win secured.

“Those are the things that are going to win you games in the playoffs, just those little details that Watty brings every time he steps on the ice that are so huge and so valuable,” Predators linemate Colton Sissons said. “We’re sure lucky to have some of that back in our lineup.”

Added defenseman Mattias Ekholm: “It’s the kind of thing that gets the bench going for sure … You like to see guys that are willing to pay a price.”

Possible ‘X’ factor

It’s seemed for months these Predators have been in need of something, much of which could probably be found in an improved power play and a productive second line.

But there’s been an odd inconsistency about this group since the early stages of the season, despite the fact Nashville is still challenging for the Central Division title. The unpredictable nature of the Preds was illustrated yet again last weekend when the Preds picked up a difficult win in Pittsburgh, then suffered a spanking at the hands of Columbus one night later.

Might Watson’s return, even coming so late in the season, provide a bit of an ‘X factor’ for the Preds heading into the playoffs?

It’s not out of the question.

The gritty, greasy statistics are the first ones that come to mind for Watson, and that’s with good reason. Ever since he changed his playing style a few seasons ago, the former first-round pick has thrown his 6-4, 204-pound frame around the ice — delivering hits, diving in front of shots, killing penalties and dropping the gloves when necessary.

In his return to action Tuesday, Watson led the Predators with four hits, no real surprise considering his 103 hits are second-highest on the team this season — despite Watson playing in just 35 games.

He’s also averaging 0.8 blocked shots per game, second-highest among Predators forwards in a category that carries with it the respect of teammates.

“He’s a guy that doesn’t hesitate when that kind of situation comes around,” Ekholm said. “He’s blocked a lot of heavy shots. He has great reads and knows when to do it. He doesn’t do it too much. He does it at the right time when it’s needed for a desperate play.”

Added Watson: “I know the way I play and what makes me successful and helps me contribute to this team. It’s just about doing those things and not anything more than that.”

Offensive difference-maker

But as much time as Watson has missed this season — suspended 18 games at the start for a domestic abuse incident, in addition to his most recent absence — it’s easy to forget that the five-year veteran might give the Preds a little offensive juice as well.

He’s only one year removed, after all, from a career-high 14 goals, and Watson’s seven goals in 35 games this season show an even better per-game average than 2017-18.

Watson scored five goals in 13 playoff games last season, and the line of Sissons, Nick Bonino and Watson cleaned Colorado’s clock in the opening round of the postseason. When that trio was on the ice in 5-on-5 situations against the Avs, the Predators outscored Colorado, 5-0.

“They’re able to generate offense, as we saw last year in the playoffs and they had some chances (against Buffalo) to score,” Laviolette said. “They had opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net. So it’s not like they do just the intangibles. They’re able to generate offense as well.”

The Sissons-Bonino-Watson line hasn’t been together often this season, simply because of Watson’s extended absences. But the three players have been effective together — as the Preds have out-shot opponents 71-61, out-chanced them 58-55 and outscored them 6-3 in 5-on-5 play.

In comparison, when Sissons and Bonino have played with a different forward on the line this season, the Preds have been out-shot 71-66 and out-chanced 67-49, still managing to win the goals battle, 6-5.

WITH AND WITHOUT WATSON* Lineup TOI Corsi #Shots #Scoring chances #Goals Sissons-Bonino-Watson 142:28 50.6% 71-61 58-55 6-3 Sissons-Bonino-other 141:10 47.8% 66-71 49-67 6-5

* How the Preds have fared in 5-on-5 situations with Watson-Bonino-Sissons on the ice together this season, as opposed to Bonino and Sissons playing with a different linemate. Stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com. # For-against

All this is not to suggest that Watson is some kind of wizard, a player who by himself — or even with linemates Sissons and Bonino — can carry the Preds on a deep playoff run.

But of all the late-season additions to the roster — the acquisitions of Mikael Granlund, Wayne Simmonds and Brian Boyle, and the signing of defenseman Dante Fabbro — Watson’s return to the lineup might just prove the most beneficial.

Watson, of course, will have to show over the long haul that he has the necessary strength and stamina to make a difference after missing so many games.

But who knows? Maybe all that time spent off the ice might mean Watson has the freshest legs on the team heading into the playoffs.

“Maybe,” Watson said Wednesday, flashing his famous gap-toothed smile as he pondered that suggestion. “Maybe so.”

(Top photo of Austin Watson: Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today)