Things are starting to turn around a bit for the Nashville Predators after a horrid start to the year, as they are now 3-0-1 in their past four outings. They ultimately capitalized on a great chance to add a few more wins, and although results have been more favorable as of late, the team has not made it easy on themselves one bit.
The Predators have fallen behind 2-0 in each of the past three games, and have overall just looked flat out of the gate those nights. It was especially worrisome in the games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets, as the Predators were in serious danger against two of the supposed worst teams in the league.
They also benefitted from offside reviews waiving off goals that would have made it 3-0 in two separate games, for whatever you think that is worth.
Despite digging themselves in such holes, the Predators have clawed back every time, managing to defeat the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets and barely losing to the Lightning in overtime in the emotional Steven Stamkos return to Tampa.
While there is still lots to clean up, it helps to see that they are finding a quality in which they pride themselves, and that fueled the success they had last year.
Nashville Predators are slowly settling into the grind of the NHL season
One of the biggest criticisms of the Predators during their 0-5-0 start to the season was that they were playing way too fancy, and overall just not hard enough. For teams like them coming off of big free agency splashes, the adjustment from pure excitement to prove it time can serve as a reality check, and it seems like that might have happened to the Predators.
Little was going right for them, as they fell behind early in several games, barely held a lead, and could not keep momentum after a goal in any way. Their confidence seemed rattled, and for whatever reason they had nothing when it came to the "intangibles" aspect of the game.
And it is not like all work is done there either. The 2-0 deficits in three straight games shows that the Predators have not yet figured out how to play a full 60 minutes as a group, and considering their talent level and the track records of many of their players, that is something that will require them digging deep to make happen.
But there are encouraging signs that the Predators will find a way, because they have shown good things in their comebacks from two goals down. They got two huge goals in critical moments in the second period against Chicago, and looked solid in the third period and ultimately won with a late powerplay goal.
Even though the Predators tied it at two against the Blue Jackets, it looked like they might revert back to old habits, as they gave up a goal shortly after to go down 3-2. But they did not let it bother them this time, as they tied it once again shortly after, kept it tied, and won it in overtime.
The Predators were a step behind in every way early in Tampa on Monday night, but completely flipped the script on that one, tying it up in the second period and keeping the quality play throughout. They might have lost the game, but it still showed their resilience, and it was actually against a team people expect to be in the playoffs.
Preds are getting back to relentless style hockey that was so successful last season
This is huge for the Predators because this is what they talked about during their huge winning streak in the last two months last year. It was what their "relentless" mantra was all about, and hopefully they can build on what they have done recently so they can be able to keep that identity throughout this year.
But it will not last forever if the Predators cannot correct their weaknesses, as going down 2-0 in games will eventually catch up to them. The fact of the matter is that most teams lose games in which they go down by two goals, so it does not matter how much resolve this team has, there is only so much time before the poor starts become a weakness that holds them back.
That being said, the Predators cannot try and force things either, because they have what is still a relatively new group of guys that is finding their chemistry. There are certain things you need to solve before anything and everything else, and the good news is that Andrew Brunette believes his team is buying into the amount of time and grit required in the overall process.
#Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette: "I think we're realizing that hurt-so-good sort of thing. It’s going to be hard, but the joy isn't in the hurt, the joy is in the work, and I thought we had joy at the end of the night tonight.”
— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) October 27, 2024
There is still a long way to go before this team fully meets expectations, but we can feel better knowing that the team has shown some life in the past week. Even still, they have to show that their progress is legitimate and not just a random stretch of luck.