Nashville Predators First Quarter Grades
Nov 25, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Team Grade – B
You can’t complain too much about seventh overall in the league. That would get you a playoff spot although it start out with a series against the St. Louis Blues. There are no easy draws in the Central Division.
There are two things we can ask for the balance of the season. More scoring and more consistency. The scoring will have to come from an increase from the first line and a huge bump from the second and third lines. The defense can’t carry this team with scoring all season. It may have to come from a trade for a first line center that has a trickle down effect on the other lines.
As for the consistency, this team has been Jekyl and Hyde all season. They started off with great special teams, then went the other way. They have been streaky with wins and losses. They had two of three games with seven goals, then set a franchise record in futility with three straight shut out losses. Even the goaltending has been streaky.
Both of these things are the kind of problems that can kill you in the playoffs. If you can’t score and suddenly everything goes cold for a few games you will find yourself playing golf during the days and watching the other teams at night. Hopefully at the half way point, Coach Laviolette and David Poile have it all figured out and the teams have all “A’s” on their Mid Terms. See you then!