The Predators are getting back in the swing of the season and looking to start an upswing that will take them up in the standings.
Week 2 Record: 2-1-0 Season Record: 3-3-0 .500, 6 points, 4th in Central Division, 6th in Western Conference,13th in NHL
Nashville Predators Scoring Spread Around
The Predators managed 10 goals in their three-game span (3 more than the week before) and have seen their scoring come from all around the lineup.
Five players (Evangelista, Smith, Fagemo, Sherwood, and Forsberg) scored their first of the year this week. Four players (Fabbro, Parssinen, McCarron and Evangelista) all got on the board with their first assists of the season as well.
The depth scoring under the Head Coach Andrew Brunette’s system is starting to come through, and that is an exciting prospect for the Predators moving forward.
Fagemo Fires Away
We’ve been wondering what Samuel Fagemo would do once he got in the lineup. We’ve been optimistic on Fagemo so far. The answer is shoot. In 12:32 of ice time, he shot four times and scored a power play goal for the Predators. He nearly scored another near the net front before getting the power play goal.
While the team clearly has offensive talent, it is very hand to have a player like Fagemo who was clearly comfortable in going for it. He might not be an everyday player right now, but he could prove to be a great plug and play option when needed.
Cody Glass Goes Down
Luke Schenn scored the first major injury of the season, but Glass got the first ding up of the year. After suffering an injury during the win against the Rangers, and is on the shelf for now. He was projected at 7 to 10 days, but this is something to keep an eye on as the year goes on.
A lower body injury (perhaps even more dreaded than the upper body injury) can fester and linger during the year. Glass is player who was supposed to be in line for a breakout season, but now might be facing a long uphill climb. If he seems a step slow or runs out of gas it might be a sign of something more serious.
Novak Knows Net
After the first half dozen games, Thomas Novak is leading the team with four goals. He’s also shooting at 30% (13 shots) which is insane. That number will come down eventually.
What won’t stop (or at least isn’t likely to stop) is Novak’s nose for the net. In his last 57 games he has scored (including his 51 games played last season) 21 goals.
Novak is a player that’s rapidly maturing, finding his stride with his line mates, and is now being dropped into a system that encourages all the offense it can handle. A good start teases the potential for a really great season to come for Novak.
This Week
Coming up are contests against the Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, with three games in between them. It’s a slower week, but the game against the Canucks is Daddy Daughter night, and game against the Leafs is the Halloween celebration.
Tuesday night’s NHL action will also be ESPN’s “Frozen Frenzy” which will feature all 32 teams playing on one night, with the telecast covering every goal scored across the league with host John Buccigross.
The first puck drop of the evening will be Maple Leafs at the Capitals at 6 P.M EDT. The start of games will be staggered after that leading up to Canucks at Nashville Predators at 9:15 P.M. EDT.
What is Happening with Philip Tomasino in the Nashville Predators Lineup?
Philip Tomasino has been a healthy scratch for two-straight games, both games the Nashville Predators have won and looked sharp in.