As the play-by-play voice of the Predators, I see the team play every game, and I also see the opponents.

But the up-tempo style the Predators play took shape well before I began calling their games. In 1997-98, when GM David Poile began to devise a plan to build the Predators from the ground up, the team's scouts -- including current coach Barry Trotz and assistant Paul Gardner -- were dispatched to look for talent. That was about the same time the NHL decided to crack down on obstruction.

The knew they couldn't just look for the best players. An expansion team realizes its first crop of players from the expansion draft are players the established teams decide they can afford to lose. Smaller, quicker players were often a part of that group, but don't forget that only four original Predators remain from that expansion draft -- Mike Dunham, Tomas Vokoun, Greg Johnson and Scott Walker.

Why go for speed?

Well, it allows a less-talented team to put more pressure on opponents, making the forecheck more effective. Speed also helps a team pounce on turnovers and with the transition game. But most importantly, a fast game is more exciting, something that was a big deal for a new NHL market like Nashville. A team on the attack, whether they score or not, is more likely to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

In their first season particularly, speed helped the Predators surprise other teams, and produced more than a few angry dressing-room meetings after that speed either helped Nashville to a win, or a game that was too close for comfort.

In fact, there haven't been many laughers for the Predators' opponents in their first three seasons. In year No. 1, 40 of their games were decided by one goal. In the second season, they played 35 one-goal games. This season, 10 games have been decided by that margin. Of all seven expansion teams the last decade, only the Florida Panthers -- who finished one point out of the playoffs in each of their first two seasons -- were more competitive the first two seasons.

Bottom line: The accent on speed, along with consistent goaltending from Dunham and Vokoun, has allowed the Predators to be competitive right from the start. But to go the next level, the Predators need to find some way to have that speed translate into more goals.

Pete Weber is the play-by-play voice of the Nashville Predators.