Nashville Predators: Players of the week for October 30
The Nashville Predators missed a few opportunities to gain some points this past week, as they were only able to come away with 3 points.
The Nashville Predators wished for a better week this past week. They got a win against rival Chicago Blackhawks, but missed out on an opportunity to gain momentum from that win, as they lost the 2nd game of the back to back. The Nashville Predators ended up finishing out the week 1-1-1. That brings the Predators record to 5-4-2, with 12 points. The Predators are currently tied for 2nd in the Central Division tied with the Avalanche, Stars, Jets and the Blackhawks. The St. Louis Blues are currently red-hot as they are 9-2-1 and are tied for a league high 19 points.
The Nashville Predators had a great opportunity to come away with 2 points on Tuesday night as they faced the Calgary Flames at home. The Predators led just about the entire game, as they scored two early goals in the first period. The Predators ended up hanging Pekka Rinne out to dry as they allowed two goals midway through the 3rd period. Those goals ended up sending it to overtime, where the Flames ended up winning in a shootout.
The Predators ended up getting a key win against the division rivals Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks got the early lead, but goals from Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith secured a win for the Predators.
The Predators had the opportunity to gain a point in the three games this week, but missed out on that opportunity as they lost to the New York Islanders, 6-2. The Predators had trouble stopping John Tavares as he had his 2nd hat trick of the week.
Here are my picks for players of the week for the Nashville Predators.
#3 – Craig Smith
This offseason, I projected Craig Smith as an honorable mention for the top 5 on the team in points. I predicted for him to score more goals for the Predators this season. Fans would like to see him score more goals, and he did that this week.
He tallied 2 goals this week for the Predators. Both of those goals were power play goals for the Predators as well. Smith has 3 goals on the year for the Predators, and is looking to continue to score. His goal scoring numbers were down last year from what they had been in years past. With this start for him, those numbers have the chance to get back to what they were a few years ago.
One thing that has been working well for the Predators is their success on the power play. They have 12 power play goals on the year, which is four goals above the league average, and is good for third in the NHL. Filip Forsberg has five of those power play goals, as all three of Craig Smith’s goals are on the power play. If those players can continue to produce those numbers on the power play, the Predators can have one of the most successful power play units in the league.
#2 – Filip Forsberg
Filip Forsberg put on an amazing show for the Predators in the month of October. He scored a record eight goals just in the month of October. Eight goals in the month of October is a franchise record for the Nashville Predators.
One for the record books, that's EIGHT goals in the month of October for Filip Forsberg - a new franchise record. #NYIvsNSH pic.twitter.com/3EXAi6AopF
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) October 29, 2017
Forsberg has been one of the most impressive players in the league so far this year. His eight goals on the year is tied 4th in the league. Forsberg is the league leader in power play goals with five. He is also the team leader in points right now, as he has 13 points, with P.K. Subban (9 points) and Ryan Johansen (6 points) behind Forsberg.
Forsberg scored the Predators first goal in the loss to the Flames on Tuesday. That goal, with no surprise, came on the power play. He also scored the Predators first goal on Saturday night against the Islanders.
This start for Filip Forsberg is much different from last season, as he didn’t score a single goal last season in the month of October. Hopefully Forsberg can keep these numbers up for the Predators in the month of November. The Predators will need for Forsberg to keep up these numbers throughout the season, and hopefully that will equate to another deep run in the playoffs for the Predators.
#1 – Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne has started off the season strong for the Nashville Predators. If it wasn’t for his unbelievable performance in the win against rival Chicago Blackhawks, the Predators would’ve walked away this week without a win. Rinne is 5-1-2 on the year, and was 1-0-1 this previous week.
As I mentioned earlier, the Predators should’ve beat the Flames at home on Tuesday but they left Pekka out to dry in the 3rd period as the Flames scored 2 late goals. He saved 30 of 32 shots he faced on the night, good for a save percentage .938. He had an outstanding game for the Predators against the Blackhawks. He allowed a early goal to Artem Anisimov, but was perfect from that point forward. He saved 43 of the 44 shots he faced that night, which was good for a save percentage of .977.
Ever since the first loss of the season to the Boston Bruins, Pekka Rinne hasn’t lost a game in regulation. He has lost one in overtime against Chicago and in shootouts to the Flames, but has 5 wins since then. Rinne’s save percentage on the year is .940, which is good for 3rd in the league.
Next: Western Conference Power Rankings after opening month
The Predators will need continued success from Rinne, as Juuse Saros has struggled in the games he’s played in this year, as he is 0-3.