Nashville Predators Trends After Three Games

Oct 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators goalie

Pekka Rinne

(35) makes a save during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators have three games in the books so far. Predlines brings a report that looks at players and units who are playing well and others who might be struggling a bit.  Today we picked five Preds options – 3 trending up, 1 trending neutral, and 1 trending down.

Trending UP ⇑: Pekka Rinne is Stingy

In there first three games the Predators have given up a grand total of two goals.  And both of those were with 1:40 left in the game and with the other team having pulled their goalie.

Rinne has been sensational, similar to the way he started out last season. He could easily have three consecutive shutouts to this point.  He is moving well and his amazing glove hand is working as well as ever.

MORE – Canadian Media Thinks Preds are Not Important.

As long as he can continue his play the Predators can easily ride him to the playoffs.  There is always the worry that he will get too much work and his play will go down a level as it seemed to last season.  For now, he has simply been unbeatable.

Next: Defense Wins Championships

Oct 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman

Roman Josi

(59) during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Trending UP ⇑: Preds Defense Could Be Leagues Best

Part of the reason that the Predators have won three games and only given up two goals is that their defense is arguably the best in the league.  Shea Weber and Roman Josi could both merit Norris Trophy nominations. Seth Jones, Ryan Ellis, and Mattias Ekholm would be top two pairing on any team in the league.

A huge help though is the playing time of new Preds defenseman, Barret Jackman.  He is averaging over 17:00 minutes a game but has about the same time on the Penalty Kill as Shea Weber and Roman Josi.  He is helping to cut down that pairs minutes on the ice.  They were near 26 minutes a game and right now are averaging between 22 and 23 minutes.  That will be a huge help in the long run.

MORE – Will Jimmy Vesey End Up a Maple Leaf?

Roman Josi has two goals already and Seth Jones has taken a step forward in his development.  He has chipped in two assists. Four of the six have points, with only seven goals scored by the team.  Jones and Ryan Ellis are on the ice nearly 20 minutes a game.  The more this group can share time, the better it is for everyone.

Coach Laviolette spoke to the Tennessean:

“Our goaltender’s been real good,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “I think our defense has done a good job from the tops of the circles down. There haven’t been too many chances where there’s been guys left uncovered, so I think we’re doing a good job protecting the front of our net.”

When your team is struggling a bit offensively, a great defense and goaltender can win you a few games.

Next: Really Special

Nashville Predators

Craig Smith

(15) skates with the puck. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Trending UP ⇑: Special Teams Are Special

One of the teams weak spots last season was special teams, especially the Power Play.   It has been well documented that they were 25th in the league with the man advantage last year.   That won’t cut it, especially at playoff time.  The team has worked on that a lot and hoped for much better this season.  They would be very happy if the current results continue.

The Predators are sixth in the league with a 28.6 PP percentage.  That is more than a dozen points better than last year.  It is a small sample but with virtually the same two units as last year, they look much more comfortable moving the puck and looking for open chances.  If they can keep that up, it will certainly improve their chances.

MORE – Viktor Arvidsson‘s First Goal

As good as the Power Play has been, the Penalty Kill-team has been even better.  In ten times shorthanded, the Predators have only given up one goal for a 90% kill rate. That is also good for sixth in the league and the only goal they gave up was last night against the Devils when they pulled their goalie on the Power Play, thus giving them a two-man advantage.

Right now, the Predators are in the top six in the league on both Power Play and Penalty Kill.  Stay in the top 10 and they should easily be an even better team than last season when they were arguably the best team in the league for a good part of the season.  Those are the kind of things that can carry you in the playoffs as well.  Let’s keep them “Special”.

Next: Is Undefeated Good Enough?

Oct 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators players celebrate after a win against the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Trending NEUTRAL ⇔: Preds Undefeated Record

Okay, this might be a little bit picky.  The Predators are 3-0 and one of only five teams in the league without a loss after five games.  It is the second time in their history that they started this well.  Three wins is three wins, right?

All of that is true but if you look at the three teams we faced, Carolina, Edmonton and New Jersey, they have a grand total of zero wins this season.  The schedule has been favorable starting the season with two home games and three teams that aren’t exactly setting the world on fire. All three teams are in the bottom six in the league in scoring.

Part of that is due to play against the Predators stout defense but in a small sample, we really don’t know how good this team is yet.  In each of the games, we got the early lead then seemed to sit back and lose our aggressiveness for a big part of the game.  We’ve been outshot during 5 on 5 play in each game.

The upcoming schedule will be a better test.  We travel to Brooklyn to take on the Islanders, who at least have a win,  then to Ottawa against the Senators who are 2-1.  We then return home for a challenging home stand.  We will host the Lightning, Ducks and Penguins, some of the best teams in the league.  That should give us a better idea of where we stand.

If we can get out of the month of October with a record of 7-3, then we will know that we have an elite team and have proven it against all kinds of competition.  The Preds won’t be able to play half a game against some of those teams and hope to come out with a win.

Next: Offense is Offensive