Predators' road struggles continue to hold Stanley Cup contender back

With their three-game winning streak, the Predators looked like they’d turned a corner after a poor start. Not so fast. The Predators haven’t figured out how to win on the road just yet.

Joshua Kloke | Nov 16, 2016

Predators' road struggles continue to hold Stanley Cup contender back /

TORONTO — The Nashville Predators came into the Air Canada Centre on a roll. Having won their last three games by an 11–2 margin, they were looking like the high-flying, offense-first team tabbed the sexy pick to come out of the Western Conference.

Despite the Predators outshooting the Leafs 34–32 and dominating the possession with an even-strength 54.17% Corsi Percentage, they were unable to build on the momentum of a three-game winning streak and fell 6–2 on Tuesday. James Van Riemsdyk registered his first hat trick for the Maple Leafs and the Leafs also got goals from Mitch Marner, Leo Komarov and William Nylander, who broke his nine-game goal-less drought.

Their inability to beat a young Maple Leafs team speaks to the problem the Predators are experiencing this season: they’re largely playing well but just not getting the winning results on paper.

“I feel any loss is frustrating,” Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “Sometimes you lose for reasons. I thought at times we were alright tonight and other times we weren’t. We’ve just got to get more consistent.”

P.K. Subban ready to bring unique blend of sports and entertainment to Nashville

The game itself was consistent: A fluid first period, which is to be expected given the puck-moving ability of the Leafs’ forwards and Predators’ defensemen, continued throughout the game and into the third period where it took nearly six minutes for the first whistle to be blown.

Though the Maple Leafs took an early lead, the Predators fought their way back at the end of the first when James Neal evaded two Maple Leafs for a tap-in goal. And when the Maple Leafs pulled ahead 3–1, Viktor Arvidsson, one of if not the best Predators player scored on a breakaway less than four minutes from the 2nd intermission. For all their ability to drive the play tonight, their attempts to get back into the game were too little too late. A lot could be taken away from the Predators’ play, sure, just not two points. Now at 6-6-3 and two points behind the Wild in perhaps the NHL’s most difficult division, these are games they need.

“Obviously we know who we’re matched up against in our division: teams who have had a lot of success in recent years,” Predators forward Ryan Johansen said. “It makes you always check the standings and it makes every game so important, which it is for every team. We know how big this time of year is to not fall behind and not just stay in the middle. You want to be one of the top teams because it’s a long year. You just have to try and stay as consistent as possible.”

Late last week some in the SI NHL department were discussing what was wrong with the Predators, a team that entered the season with such high expectations. My answer all salacious, was simple: nothing. Their even-strength scoring chances for % is still one of the best in the league. The bounces just haven’t gone their way yet.

“For the most part our game was alright but you’ve got to score to win and they did just that,” Ellis said.

“They got the fast start,” he added, speaking to the struggles that the Predators have had on the road this season. “That’s a big part of being at home—they come out and they jump on that lead. We had chances to get back in it but the bounces didn’t go our way tonight.”

NHL Old Faces in New Places

P.K. Subban, D, Nashville Predators

Former team: Montreal Canadiens

Shea Weber, D, Montreal Canadiens

Former team: Nashville Predators

Taylor Hall, LW, New Jersey Devils

Former team: Edmonton Oilers

Milan Lucic, LW, Edmonton Oilers

Former team: Los Angeles Kings

Brian Elliott, G, Calgary Flames

Former team: St. Louis Blues

Keith Yandle, D, Florida Panthers

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images

Former team: New York Rangers

Kyle Okposo, RW, Buffalo Sabres

Former team: New York Islanders

David Backes, C, Boston Bruins

Former team: St. Louis Blues

Loui Eriksson, RW, Vancouver Canucks

Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images (head); Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images (body)

Former team: Boston Bruins

Derick Brassard, LW, Ottawa Senators

Former team: New York Rangers

Andrew Ladd, LW, New York Islanders

Former team: Winnipeg Jets

Eric Staal, C, Minnesota Wild

Former team: New York Rangers

Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers

Former team: Ottawa Senators

Frederik Andersen, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

Former team: Anaheim Ducks

Teuvo Teravainen, C, Carolina Hurricanes

Former team: Chicago Blackhawks

Frans Nielsen, C, Detroit Red Wings

Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images (head); Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images (body)

Former team: New York Islanders

Alex Goligoski, D, Arizona Coyotes

Former team: Dallas Stars

Mikkel Boedker, LW, San Jose Sharks

Former team: Colorado Avalanche

Troy Brouwer, RW, Calgary Flames

Former team: St. Louis Blues

Adam Larsson, D, Edmonton Oilers

Former team: New Jersey Devils

Dmitry Kulikov, D, Buffalo Sabres

Former team: Florida Panthers

Jamie McGinn, LW, Arizona Coyotes

Former team: Anaheim Ducks

Thomas Vanek, LW, Detroit Red Wings

Andy King/NHLI via Getty Images (head); Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images (body)

Former team: Minnesota Wild

Nail Yakupov, RW, St. Louis Blues

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images (head); Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images (body)

Former team: Edmonton Oilers

Radim Vrbata, RW, Arizona Coyotes

Former team: Vancouver Canucks

Lee Stempniak, RW, Carolina Hurricanes

Former team: Boston Bruins

Brian Campbell, D, Chicago Blackhawks

Former team: Florida Panthers

David Perron, LW, St. Louis Blues

Former team: Anaheim Ducks

The problem with the issues the Predators are facing is there’s no real solution. What adjustments would you make when your team outshoots the opponent, drives play but doesn’t get the win? They could be a victim of being creatures of comfort. Their three-game win streak came at home where they are 5-1-1. But that momentum quickly disappears when they take things to the road. They’re now 1-5-2 away from Bridgestone Arena.

But exercising patience as that 20-game barometer inches closer and the playoff picture ever so slowly comes into view, is easier said than done.

“We’ve struggled a little bit on the road so far this season,” Johansen said. “There was a lot of talk before the game about that and trying to get back on the right foot. Obviously we didn’t tonight. That part of the game is frustrating right now. We’d like to get going on the road.”

For now, the Predators may simply have to play the waiting game. The questions regarding their record will likely persist given the amount of talent on their roster. But they’re getting the chances and with that aforementioned talent, it’s logical to assume those goals and wins will eventually come.

Just how long they can wait and stick to what they’re doing will likely become the biggest question of them all.

Published Nov 16, 2016

JOSHUA KLOKE