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Nashville Predators Shredded Defensively in Loss to Carolina

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 10: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates Dante Fabbro #57 and Mikael Granlund #64 after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 10: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates Dante Fabbro #57 and Mikael Granlund #64 after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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It was a lopsided loss for the Nashville Predators to the Carolina Hurricanes as their three-game win streak is halted. Back to the drawing board.

Once again the Nashville Predators just couldn’t offer much defensive resistance as they suffer the 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.  They were trying for their first four-game winning streak sine mid-October.

Right out of the gate the Hurricanes were all over Juuse Saros‘ crease and making it very difficult to keep them off the scoreboard.

Less than four minutes in, Jordan Staal would score the game’s first goal after receiving a pass from behind the net. Carolina players were swarming all over the net.

Despite plenty more opportunities, Carolina would remain at just one goal and Nashville would actually tie the score at 1-1 early in the 2nd period. Ryan Johansen would get his 12th goal of the season.

After that, it was simply all Carolina.  Very little defensive presence from the Predators, and the Hurricanes kind of went into cruise control after going up 2-1 with a power play goal from Andrei Svechnikov.

Check out the heat map from NaturalStatTrick that shows how lopsided the shot quality was for Carolina as opposed to Nashville at 5-on-5:

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On other side, the Hurricanes got solid goaltending from Petr Mrazek. He wasn’t tested nearly as much as Saros was, but he made the necessary saves to give the Predators really no chance of keeping up with Carolina on the scoreboard, despite being nearly equal in shots on goal.

Time to shift the defense up

I don’t know why they’re waiting so long to make changes on the defensive pairings behind Roman Josi. They keep kicking the can down the road, and nothing is really improving.

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More so, I don’t see GM David Poile making any big moves at the trade deadline. A lot of moves have already been made by teams like Vegas, Winnipeg and Washington.

Even if the Predators somehow sneak into the playoffs, this current defensive makeup will not lead to anything more than a first-round exit.

There’s 23 regular season games left for the team to get more comfortable under John Hynes, build more chemistry and get Ryan Ellis back.

Last night the Hurricanes managed 14 high danger chances in all situations, per NaturalStatTrick.

Furthermore, the Predators only responded with seven of their own and didn’t have nearly the offensive quality of shots that Carolina managed.

It’s time to call up some AHL defensemen and see what they can provide. It can’t get any worse. Give Alexandre or Frederic Allard an opportunity, and move out Dan Hamhuis and/or Jarred Tinordi.

Tinordi has occasionally shown signs of getting better, but not enough to justify leaving him in the lineup. Whenever Ellis finally return to the lineup, Tinordi needs to be the first man out.

What’s next

Well you certainly can’t dwell on this loss too much. The Predators need to keep up that pace of winning three out of every four to stay firmly in the playoff race.

They go back on the road for one game on Friday as they’ll take on the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that has their playoff hopes quickly evaporating. This is  game the Predators absolutely have to take care of business in.

The Predators then get a five-game homestand after going to Chicago, and need to win at least three or four of those five games. There’s just not much room for error anymore.

My confidence level remains pretty favorable that the Predators creep into the playoffs over the last few games of the regular season. Where my confidence lacks is what they’ll do once they get in against a top seed.

The penalty is firmly the worst in the league, and a once top-notch core of defensemen is now made up of just Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm trying to carry the rest of them.

Until the defense is addressed with roster moves or calling someone up from the minors that can offer something more, then I have them pegged as a one and done.

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