Nashville Predators Start Similar to Last Year's Penguins

Nashville Predators Austin Watson (51) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators are off to a rough start, but it’s not all bad.

The Nashville Predators currently have a losing record and sitting sixth in the Central Division. If this was the situation in March, there wouldn’t be many happy people in Nashville – fans and players alike. Luckily, it’s only Halloween time and that means there is a lot of hockey left to play and ground to make up.

We’re going to take a look here at a time before last night’s dumpster fire loss to the Anaheim Ducks- back to a time when the Preds took the Pittsburgh Penguins to town over the weekend with a 5-1 win, using a five-game sample size to show that while the Preds are off to a slow start, not all Stanely Cup winners race out of the gates. Here, we take a look at how this year’s Nashville Predators measures up the Penguins of last year.

Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Shots on goal

While the goals have been hard to come by so far, the Preds are having no problem putting the puck on net. Through the first five games, Nashville hurled 154 shots toward the netminder – a 30% increase in shots compared to the Preds this time last year. This total also sits 20 above the Penguins last year through five games.

The downside? The Preds are being outshot. While it isn’t by a large margin, Nashville holds a -12 differential largely due to the Redwings onslaught of 43 shots. Last year through five games, the Penguins had a differential of +25. If the Preds can continue to shoot (effectively) and limit opponent shots, they will thrive.

Nashville Predators left wing Kevin Fiala (56) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Goals

It seems pretty obvious – the more shots you attempt the more likely you are to score. It’s pure statistics. Through five games, the Nashville Predators tallied 15 goals. Unfortunately for the Preds, they also allowed 15 goals and if you take away the blowout of the Penguins, they would have a differential of -4.

However, compared to last year’s Penguins squad who only scored seven goals through five games, the Preds are doing just fine. Scoring doesn’t seem to be a problem for the team as they only have one goal less than the division leading Wild. A bright spot in the Preds scoring so far as been the powerplay unit.

Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Power-play performance

If there’s one department the Predators aren’t lacking in, it’s power play goals. Through the first five games, the Preds notched nine power play goals out of 19 opportunities – 47%! Only Columbus is better with 50%, though they only notched half the goals.

As for Stanely Cup champions Pittsburgh last year, a big goose egg. With 12 power play opportunities in five games, zero pucks found the back of the net. This bodes well for the Preds. A power play goals can turn games around. The trick will be netting special teams goals when the opportunities aren’t as abundant.

Nashville Predators left winger James Neal (18) Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Penalty woes

The Predators tend to be an aggressive team, especially when the first game of the new season brings in your rival from up north. All in all, the Preds have 57 penalty minutes mostly from two games – 20 opening night against Chicago and 21 against Detroit. With opponents getting 18 power plays, only 4 goals have been let up.

How does this stack up to the Pens through five games? The Preds have 22 more penalty minutes than the Pens did. It isn’t all that bad, but it could be a lot better. The more time a team is a man (or two) down, the more likely they are to give up a goal. If the Preds can limit the mistakes, things will fall into place.

Nashville Predators left wing James Neal (18) Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Overall

When a team doesn’t start out 5-0 or even 4-1 for that matter, the sky tends to start falling. But fear not Preds fans, you can take off your helmets. The Nashville Predators may have been swamped in their sixth game, but will have the opportunity to rebound tonight in L.A.

Don’t forget, the Preds have been picked as a favorite this year for a reason. With 76 games left in the regular season, there is more than enough time for Nashville to make up ground. All it takes is stringing some wins together (Canadian road trip anyone?). Before you know it, it’s April and the playoffs are here.

So close your eyes, take a deep breath, and remember – it’s only one game beyond those five games. The Preds were 2-3 through five, and so were the Penguins last year. We have a long, long way to go.