After being outscored 7-3 in the first two games of the season the Nashville Predators turn their attention to a four-game homestand. The Seattle Kraken are up first having picked up their first win of the season in a shootout against the Minnesota Wild.
Head coach Andrew Brunette shook up the offensive lines at practice on Monday in preparation to see what he can potentially experiment with against Seattle tomorrow. He’s been pleased with the demeanor of his team, but with a few games in the books, it’s time to iron out the fine details.
“Again, referring a little bit to summer hockey. We’re trying to be a little cute & we’re trying to show how much skill we have instead of letting the work come first & the skill follows,” Brunette said. “We’re playing a little bit of that way so I’d like to see that going into tomorrow night, I don’t look too far ahead I’m looking for one here.”
Cole Smith & Steven Stamkos were alongside Jonathan Marchessault throughout practice in preparation for the third game of the season. Colton Sissons was bumped down to the fourth line playing with Juuso Pärssinen & Michael McCarron. Brunette kept Mark Jankowski, Tommy Novak & Luke Evangelista together after getting more of a sense of their in-game chemistry against Detroit.
“I thought we’d see Stamkos in the middle & see how that works & looks,” Brunette said. “Smith is a big engine & he does a lot of good things out there so it might help get them the puck a little more than they have.”
Ideally, Brunette & the coaching staff don’t want to see too much shuffling with the lineup. It’s not always the intent but when the rhythm is off then it can warrant some different looks. Smith was told when he got to the rink he was jumping up to play with Stamkos & Marchessault.
On the back end, the Predators have been knocking off the rust there too. Albeit, it’s a small sample size the team wants to take advantage of playing at home for the next eight days. If the execution is off it’ll provide the opposition with more high-danger opportunities on offense.
“I think we’re doing a lot of good things defensively, it’s been some of the little details of the game that have hurt us,” Brunette said. “They’re big mistakes when they happen & those are the ones that get you. You give four or five Grade A chances off the rush it’s going to be hard.”
Defenseman Alexandre Carrier has been subject to seeing changes on the fly in the first pair of games. He’s primarily been with Jeremy Lauzon & even spent the end of the game in Detroit with Brady Skjei. An adjustment that came seamlessly to Carrier since Lauzon plays a similar style to Skjei.
“They’re both defensemen that move well,” Carrier said. “It makes it easier to read off both of them when we close on guys because I know I can trust their feet.”
According to Natural Stat Trick in all strengths, the Predators have allowed 68 scoring chances with 39 being high-danger. So far Nashville has allowed four of their seven goals against to be scored in the high-danger zone.
As games shift back to home ice the sense is this group can start putting the pieces together after 120 minutes with just one game featuring Juuse Saros as the starter.
“We want to get the lead & start strong,” Carrier said about what this team needs to establish during the homestand. “Be sharper on the execution as well. Sometimes I think there were a few icings we could avoid.
“With offensive execution, we’re going to create momentum. Playing in Bridgestone it’s always easier when you get the crowd behind you. I’m not worried at all, we just got to put it all together for a full 60.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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