Nashville Predators: Evangelista’s historic game, Staying the course

As close to home as it came for Nashville Predators rookie Luke Evangelista as he posted historic numbers in Buffalo on Tuesday evening in the midst of a two-game road trip.

The Toronto native notched four points against the Sabres, tying the franchise record in one period by any player, en route to a 7-3 win before returning home for the next two contests against the Seattle Kraken.

“With all the movement that’s gone on, there’s an opportunity here for the young guys here. I think we’re all doing our best to take advantage of it here and make a name for ourselves,” Evangelista said postgame on Tuesday.

The stars were aligned as just one year ago it was Filip Forsberg on the Nashville Predators scoring four points in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks (3/21/22) winning 6-3. Evangelista also ties captain Roman Josi for the most points in a single game this season. Josi picked up four points back on November 17, 2022.

“Buffalo is pretty close to home. To have a bunch of family here and those being some pretty key goals it was a really cool feeling,” Evangelista said.

According to Greg Harvey from Opta Stats tweeted after the Predators win in Buffalo that NHL rookies to have 2+ goals, 2+ assists, a plus/minus of +4, and +7shots in a single game are Evangelista and Dale Hawerchuk back on March 13, 1982.

The “Kid” Line as defenseman Jeremy Lauzon put it on Smashville Live on Wednesday over 102.5 The Game’s airwaves has been playing well since being put together on March 4 in Chicago.

That line has consisted of Kiefer Sherwood, Tommy Novak, & Evangelista. They’ve played together for the last eight of 10 games putting up a combined total of 24 points.

Even with Forsberg, Josi, Mark Borowiecki, Ryan Johansen, Juuso Parssinen, & Alexandre Carrier being out of the lineup Nashville has been clawing and scratching for a postseason berth. The Nashville Predators are four points back of the final Wild Card spot as of Thursday before puck drop.

“I think collectively as a group we’ve been hungry,” Hynes said after Sunday’s 7-0 loss in New York. “Over the last three weeks, we’ve been a very competitive group. Tonight in the first period we weren’t & when you do that against a team with this caliber they make you pay. I think we need to take some of those lessons out of the third period & make sure some of those details are fixed.”

One detail of the Predators that has been nothing short of optimal is the penalty kill.

Since Feb. 19 Nashville has killed off 88% of its penalties while being shorthanded 52 times in that span (4th ranked in NHL).

“It’s been massive for us and changing games into our favor,” defenseman Jeremy Lauzon said of the penalty kill Wednesday on 102.5 The Game.

On the flip side, the Predators powerplay is ranked 11th converting 22% of the time since Feb. 19 scoring on 9-of-40 opportunities. Tomasino (3) and Novak (2) lead Nashville with the most powerplay goals.

Now the Predators have the potential to pick four points against the Seattle Kraken who make their venture to Music City for the first time since their first win in franchise history back on Oct. 14, 2021.

Eeli Tolvanen makes his return to Nashville as well since being waived by the Predators back on Dec. 11. The 2017 first-round selection has put up 23 points in 36 games played, five of his points coming on the powerplay.