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The Nashville Predators appeared to be in command during their October 6 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, surging to a 3-0 lead at Scotiabank Arena. Steven Stamkos found the net once, while Nils Höglander scored twice, putting Nashville in a seemingly dominant position. However, the game took a sharp turn as penalties, defensive lapses, and turnovers in the neutral zone allowed Toronto to regain momentum. The Maple Leafs fought back to tie the score at 4-4 in the third period, and Auston Matthews secured the win with an overtime goal.
This pattern has characterized the Predators' start to the season. At times, they look like a formidable team; at others, they seem disorganized. With a record of 1-1-1 (3 points), here are three key observations from Nashville's first three games.
Key Analysis
1. A More Balanced Offensive Attack
In the previous season, Nashville's scoring was heavily reliant on the top line of Ryan O'Reilly, Filip Forsberg, and Steven Stamkos, who accounted for 107 of the team's 242 goals. This year, the offense appears more distributed. O'Reilly and Stamkos are skating together again, now with winger Alex Kerfoot, while Forsberg is on a line with second-year center Matthew Wood and Höglander. Both lines have created scoring opportunities in all three games, primarily by directing shots toward the middle of the ice. That's a positive development. However, the Predators need more output from Mavrik Bourque, their biggest offseason addition. He notched his first point—an assist—in the loss to Toronto.
2. Defensive Woes Likely to Persist
Defense continues to be Nashville's most obvious weakness. Roman Josi, 36, anchors the blue line, but he has received limited support from Brady Skjei, Nicolas Hague, Adam Wilsby, and Nick Perbix. Ryan Ufko, who had an impressive training camp, played in the home opener but was quickly sent back to Milwaukee. William Trudeau, acquired via waivers, isn't expected to remain long. General manager Chris MacFarland was aware of this issue. Before training camp, he emphasized the need to add a puck-moving defenseman. Rumors linked Nashville to Carolina's Alex Nikishin, a restricted free agent, and Detroit's Simon Edvinsson, who is unsigned. Yet nothing has materialized. Until Ufko or Tanner Molendyk prove they can handle full-time NHL roles, or the Predators make a trade, the defense will remain a concern.
3. The Hot Start That Wasn't
MacFarland told The Tennessean on September 10 that how the Predators perform in October will shape not only this season but future ones. Three points in three games—a win, a loss, and an overtime loss—is hardly the hot start they needed. The coming weeks are pivotal for head coach Andrew Brunette. Playing .500 hockey won't suffice, especially given their challenging early schedule. Beginning with the Montreal Canadiens on October 8 (6 p.m. CT, The Spot Nashville 28), Nashville plays nine of its next 13 games against teams that made the playoffs last year. If they haven't climbed the standings by November, changes to the coaching staff and roster are likely.
Alex Daugherty covers the Predators for The Tennessean. Reach him at [email protected], follow him on X at @alexdaugherty1, or check out the Predators-exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.