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Nashville Predators: New year brings new questions for the Predators

By Corey Francis

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 2: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators and Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skate to the puck during the game at T-Mobile Arena on January 2, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 2: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators and Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skate to the puck during the game at T-Mobile Arena on January 2, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Nashville Predators are in the midst of a slump. What once was a promising season is mired by injury and bad luck. That brings questions.

No. The sky is not falling, though things are not looking as great for the Nashville Predators right now. It is not bad, but not as good as we were seeing back in November. But, let’s be honest – without going full-on “Chicken Little” – the Predators are slumping.

Let the record show this to be the truth.

In their last 10 games, the Predators are 5-4-1. They have scored three or fewer goals in 7 of their last 9. Home ice has not been kind as the Predators lost three of the last four Bridgestone appearances.

What happened? Vegas happened. The loss to the Golden Knights at home is when the Predators started to falter. Before Vegas, Nashville tallied three or more goals 15 times since November 1. That is 17 games. Ten of those games was 4 or more goals. Since the three-goal performance against Vegas at home, they have surpassed three goals twice.

Now, Vegas sits comfortably atop the Western Conference. Their eight-game winning streak will not be easy to break; however, their upcoming games in St. Louis and Chicago help. The hopeful news for the NHL regarding Vegas is this: while they have won 12 of their last 13, only four wins came away from home ice. They have 23 road games left this season.

So, what is going on with the Predators since Vegas visited? I have some questions. Let’s hope there are some answers.

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