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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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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 04: Nashville Predators defenseman Alexei Emelin (25), defenseman P.K. Subban (76), center Kyle Turris (8) and right wing Craig Smith (15) congratulate left wing Kevin Fiala (22) following his second period goal during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Boston Bruins, held on December 4, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 04: Nashville Predators defenseman Alexei Emelin (25), defenseman P.K. Subban (76), center Kyle Turris (8) and right wing Craig Smith (15) congratulate left wing Kevin Fiala (22) following his second period goal during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and the Boston Bruins, held on December 4, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Nothing even at 5v5

It has been a concern all season. The Nashville Predators are not great at 5v5 hockey. At current, the team ranks tied for 21st in even-strength goals with 80. Let’s see, 80 divided by 123 (total goals on the year) equals 65.04.

That’s right. The Predators goals at even-strength account for just 65% of their scoring. There are only two teams with worse percentages: Pittsburg with 61.1% and 63.7% for San Jose.

The silver lining is the Predators are successful on the power-play, right?

It helps the team allowed the third fewest goals at even-strength. Thank you, Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros.

The problem? The last four Stanley Cup-winning teams obtained 72% or higher of their total goals at even-strength.

Can the Nashville Predators fix this? It can improve, but I doubt the percentage will increase too much. Unless a flurry of scoring happens on 5v5 chances, reaching a 70% clip is improbable.

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