It has not been the beginning the Nashville Predators have been hoping for after the most important strikes the group made within the offseason. The group got here into the season with very excessive expectations to no less than take the following step after shedding in six video games of the opening spherical of the playoffs in 2024.
The Predators have began the season with a five-game shedding streak and are lifeless final within the league, so let’s dive into 5 tell-all stats from the primary 5 video games of the season.
Horrible Begin by the Predators
There have solely been 17 groups within the NHL growth period (1967-68), excluding Nashville this season, which have began the season 0-5-0. Six have made the playoffs and none since 1995-96.
Whereas that is only a stat and it might go both approach for the Predators, over 33% shouldn’t be unhealthy in any respect contemplating the kinds of groups that might have began with 5 consecutive regulation losses. These aren’t sometimes playoffs caliber groups.
Nashville Alone on the Backside
The Predators are alone on the backside of the standings. They’re the one group with zero factors within the standings, shedding each sport in regulation. Nashville has misplaced by a couple of objective in all however their season opener in opposition to the Dallas Stars.
After ending final season with 47 wins and 99 factors, it’s a huge setback in topping these numbers and even doing effectively sufficient to show issues round and make the playoffs. Regardless of that, there are 77 video games remaining this season and the Predators obtained factors in 18 consecutive video games final season (16-0-2) together with three separate profitable streaks of no less than six video games.
Nashville is not the one group and not using a win although because the San Jose Sharks are 0-3-2 by way of 5 video games. The Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche even have only one win every in 5 video games to start the marketing campaign.
Predators Creating Possibilities to Rating
Contemplating the Predators are considered one of simply two winless groups left within the NHL and are alone on the backside, it’s arduous to think about they lead the league in photographs per sport with 35.4. The PDO (save proportion + capturing proportion) may be very poor proper now, and can finally even itself out. Whereas each shot from Nashville is not a high-danger likelihood, photographs will result in extra objectives than the group has scored and wins would be the end result.
The Predators have not scored greater than three objectives in a sport this season and have been shut out as soon as. Three of the group’s 10 objectives have additionally come on the facility play, so seven even power objectives in 5 video games is simply not adequate.
Stamkos’ Sluggish Begin
Steven Stamkos signing in Nashville created probably the most noise this previous low season and it has not labored out to date. 5 video games right into a four-year contract may be very unreasonable to guage somebody on although.
Related: Stamkos Scores, but Predators Fall Flat in 5-2 Loss to Red Wings
Stamkos is an excellent participant and has been a point-per-game participant for many of his profession, together with the final three seasons and 7 of the final eight. He has only one objective (got here on the facility play) by way of 5 video games and is a -6 plus/minus. Stamkos hasn’t assisted on any objectives both. He has been on the ice for 3 objectives in opposition to at 5-on-5 and 4 in opposition to with the goalie pulled attempting to tie the sport.
Stamkos goes to make a distinction, however it has been a wrestle early on for not solely him, however the remainder of the group to seek out the again of the online, scale back objectives in opposition to, and determine it out.
Nashville Has Puck Possession
The Predators have been wonderful within the faceoff circle, profitable 55.7% of attracts. That is adequate to rank them second within the league. What this implies is that Nashville begins with possession of the puck, whether or not it’s defensive zone, impartial zone, or offensive zone.
Beginning performs with the puck ought to forestall extra scoring probabilities and permit for extra scoring probabilities for, however Nashville hasn’t been capable of maintain the puck out of their web that effectively and may’t convert their alternatives but. As soon as the luck begins to show for the Predators, beginning with possession the vast majority of the time goes to be harmful for opponents to cope with.
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