Nashville Predators Neal, Arvidsson Providing Consistency, Highlights

The Nashville Predators have two players consistently providing the thrills despite the team’s inconsistent start.

The Nashville Predators sit at an underwhelming 6-6-3 at this early point in the season, coming off a sorely disappointing 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night. The defeat snapped a six-game point streak and sent fans into a frenzy about what’s working and what’s failing to come together for the team’s play.

Backup goaltender Marek Mazanec drew the bulk of the heat, and arguably deservedly so for holding an abhorrent 5.45 GAA and .809 save percentage at the NHL level this season- but it became easy to get lost in arguments of what should be done between the pipes and forget about what is continuing to work for the team.

Namely there are two things consistently producing positive results- James Neal and Viktor Arvidsson. Both skaters demonstrated their value in obvious fashion Tuesday night, notching the only two goals for Nashville.

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James Neal recorded his team-leading seventh goal of the year following a precision feed by Ryan Johansen, who has been centering the top line between Neal and Arvidsson. The point gave Neal a goal in five-straight games, the longest goal-streak in the NHL so far this season and a mark that ties that longest goal-scoring streak in his career.

The veteran right winger has been a torch leading the Nashville Predators to a turnaround in their season, earning 7 points during his still-active 5-game streak, and having notched 10 of his 11 points in the past 8 contests. Neal is tied for the team lead in total points with Filip Forsberg, but carries a much heavier stat line with 7 goals, 4 assists against Forsberg’s lone goal on the year.

Nipping at the heels of the team leaders is Viktor Arvidsson with 10 points. The 5’9 winger cashed in on a breakaway attempt that evened up his scoring at 5 goals and 5 assists on the season, well representing the under-sized player’s ability to mobilize and become a legitimate threat.

The speedy forward has looked much stronger on his skates than last year, a campaign which saw him marking 16 points (again, an even 8 goals, 8 assists) through 56 games. On pace to obliterate last season’s efforts, Arvidsson has secured his place as an underrated fan favorite through tireless effort and explosive maneuvers, as seen below.

Undeniably the Predator’s most consistent, if not overall best, player since opening the season, the 23-year-old Swede has earned his way to a top-line winger position after joining the NHL roster as a depth piece two seasons ago. With most eyes across the hockey world looking to the addition of P.K. Subban to provide explosive excitement in Smashville, it has been Arvidsson  igniting fireworks for the Fanged Faithful.

Both players will take to the ice against the Ottawa Senators tonight. With the Preds looking to return to their winning ways against a team they defeated 3-1 last week, James Neal will have the opportunity to extend his goal-scoring streak to a career-high six games.

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