After starting the season with three lackluster performances the Nashville Predators called their first team meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Head coach Andrew Brunette briefly went over the 7-3 loss against Seattle amongst other items on the agenda.
Now the focus is on the Edmonton Oilers as Nashville wants to pick up their first win of the season. A team that made the Stanley Cup Final last year comes to town presenting a difficult challenge for a team still in search of establishing chemistry.
“Commitment to being connected. We’ve played three games where we’ve done some things & we have a lot of looseness in our game,” Brunette said of what he expects from his group tonight. “We’re giving up odd-man rushes, just self-inflicted which is giving us a hard time getting into our style of play. When we do the right things we’ll have fun with the puck & when we don’t it’s a hard game.”
Brunette has tasked Tommy Novak & Luke Evangelista to play with Steven Stamkos on the left wing tonight & after practice, the trio had a quick conversation before going to the locker room.
“Just be yourself & keep focusing on those puck battles, winning pucks & play within our system,” Novak said of Brunette’s message. “For me & Luke just try to be ourselves & be the best we can for the team.”
Stamkos’ last game against the Oilers was on Dec. 14, 2023, scoring four goals, the most he’s ever notched in a game over his 17-year career. In his last five contests against Edmonton, he’s put up seven points with six being goals.
Nashville will be pressed to contain forwards Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl tonight. Draisaitl alone has 42 points in 26 regular season meetings with the Predators. In his last five games against Nashville, he has 15 points.
“It’s always a challenge with that team. Just looking for us to get back on our game, we’ve kind of been off it. We just need to get back to the basics & go from there,” goaltender Juuse Saros said.
Saros has witnessed what Nashville’s minor & major gaffes have been so far aside from the first game against Dallas. While he’s started back-to-back contests the difference in pace of the game has been noticeable from the standard he saw in action last season.
“It’s similar to when we weren’t playing at our best last year. We’re lacking in the small details & making it a little too easy for our opponent,” Saros said. “Once we dial it in, all of those little things, we’ll be all good.”
Dante Fabbro said the defensemen are giving up “a little bit too much” right now as they settle into games.
“I think as a defense corps we can be better & I know we’ll be better,” Fabbro said. “We’re just excited tonight to have another opportunity to go out there & put our best foot forward. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about & being together…
I thought we had lots of energy on the ice this morning, we’re just excited to get another crack at it tonight to get our fans into it, the building into it, & try to put our best foot forward.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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