Why '61:35' is motivating Predators' latest pursuit of Stanley Cup

Visiting dressing rooms can be drab, so the Predators have spruced them up this season by hanging a banner near the entryways.

Displayed prominently are a ferocious wolf with gnashing teeth, symbolizing the Predators' take-no-prisoners attitude, and a number — 61:35.

“A lot of people ask, ‘What does it mean?’ " Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “To us, it’s pretty clear.”

It signifies how close they were to capturing the Stanley Cup last season — the 95 seconds remaining in Game 6 when Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist whacked in the championship-clinching goal plus the 60 minutes of a Game 7 that might have been.

More: Want $15 Predators playoff tickets? Get verified, and then get lucky

Everything that the Predators have done this season can be traced back to that number. Their objective has been to harness it as motivation, then wipe it from memory.

“It’s our motto for the whole year,” Predators captain Roman Josi said. “It just starts excitement in you to see how close you got. It was tough. You don’t want to be on that side again.”

The NHL regular season is an unforgiving slog. Eighty-two games spread across seven months test a team's resolve and, frankly, its patience.

Surely the Predators wanted to fast-forward through the agonizingly long schedule — 5,006 minutes and 40 seconds of total game time, to be precise — and skip to the part where their redemption story begins.

More: Predators star Pekka Rinne won't stop until he gets the Cup

But before they could get there, they had to earn their way back. Driven by the bitter memory of losing last June, the Predators compiled the greatest season in franchise history and open their first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday as the popular choice to win the Stanley Cup.

More: Predators' postseason watch parties scheduled for Walk of Fame Park

“Throughout the season, you start to set new goals,” Josi said. “The Central Division became a goal. The Presidents’ Trophy became a goal. The standings allowed us to stay in the moment and play for a lot, even before the playoffs.”

The "61:35" banner will continue to decorate the Predators' dressing room as they chart their course toward another Stanley Cup Final.

If they're successful this time, then they'll have another banner to hang, albeit a bigger one with a better message — "2018 Stanley Cup champions."

“We can smell it,” Predators forward Colton Sissons said. “It’s right in front of us. We’re all looking forward to it and ready to build on last year’s success.”

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

Predators vs. Avalanche

All times are CT. All games on 102.5-FM.

Game 1: Thursday at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. (Fox TN, NBC SN)

Game 2: Saturday at Nashville, 2 p.m. (NBC)

Game 3: Monday at Colorado, 9 p.m. (Fox TN, NBC SN)

Game 4: April 18 at Colorado, 9 p.m. (Fox TN, NBC SN)

Game 5 (if necessary): April 20 at Nashville, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): April 22 at Colorado, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): April 24 at Nashville, TBD