Two steps forward and five feet backward, that's the theme for the Nashville Predators in 2024-25 after another underwhelming loss at the hands of the Ottawa Senators.
Head Coach Andrew Brunette, who has shown optimism in this team for most of the season, didn't sugarcoat his disappointment in the effort when speaking with the team's official website after the 5-2 defeat to Ottawa.
"“Probably the last two games have been as disappointed as I've been with our group. I understood tonight was a hard night, it's [four games in six nights] and travel and back-to-back, but at the end of the day, where we're at, it was a little disappointing.""Via Brooks Bratten, Team Website
At least we're being honest now. I've been pretty hard on this team's ability to make excuses after losses, calling their game good enough to win even though they're just six points ahead of the worst team in the entire NHL.
Nashville Predators frustration is boiling over after loss to Senators
The "we played good enough" excuse only works so many times. You can get away with it when it happens occasionally, but eventually you have to come to grips with reality that you're just not a good hockey team.
Now I will say that the Senators are a really underrated, high quality hockey team that will be dangerous in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they make it. They have young talent, speed and a top-10 defensive team.
The Predators didn't even have to go up against Ottawa's top goalie, Linus Ullmark. They got Anton Forsberg, who only had to face seven shots from Nashville in the third period.
An undisciplined effort from Nashville as well. Ottawa got five power plays, and to Nashville's credit, they stopped four of them while also connecting on a power play of their own. It was a sloppy game for both teams with 18 giveaways from Ottawa and 12 giveaways from Nashville.
There were several scenarios in this game where the Predators played way too fancy. Instead of taking the shot and crashing the net for rebounds and chaos in front of the net, they elected to go with low-percentage passes they often got intercepted by Ottawa defenders.
Juuse Saros looked incredibly frustrated as well, and can you blame him? Again, no goal support and up against very difficult shots to stop.
The Predators got basically zero offense from their depth players. From their bottom-six forwards, the Predators managed just two shots on goal. One from Tommy Novak, one from Michael McCarron. Just abysmal.
The frustrations really hit a high after the Senators got their empty net goal to make it 5-2. Roman Josi snapped a shot the opposite direction from the empty net and I would just really like to know what the shot speed was on that. He blasted it in frustration.
Only two games left before the Four Nations Face-Off break. Then the trade deadline will happen and almost certainly a large sell off from General Manager Barry Trotz.