losangelesherald
Despite securing four out of a possible six points on a three-game swing through the Eastern Conference, the Nashville Predators were left pondering what could have been. The team now shifts its focus to a three-game homestand that begins Tuesday against the defending Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Nashville has been idle since Saturday, when it dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Ottawa Senators. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, are wrapping up a back-to-back set after falling 4-2 to the Minnesota Wild on Monday in Saint Paul, Minn.
The Predators posted a 1-0-2 record on their Canadian journey, which started with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 6 after they squandered an early three-goal advantage. Two nights later, Nashville erased a two-goal second-period deficit by scoring the final five goals in a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last spring.
On Saturday, the Predators raced out to a 2-0 first-period lead, but Drake Batherson tied it for the Senators with 1:23 remaining in regulation. Ottawa, one of only four NHL teams with at least 10 points, then prevailed in the shootout.
"I feel it's been a little common in the past few games -- we kind of lay off the gas a little bit and let teams back in the game," said Jonathan Marchessault, who scored Nashville's second goal on Saturday. "One point is good, but I mean, at the end of the year, they're pretty hard to get those points. So it would be nice to be able to close on games."
For the Golden Knights, the start was the issue on Monday. They surrendered three goals in a span of 5:07 during the latter half of the first period, snapping a four-game winning streak. It marked the third time this season Vegas has faced a multi-goal deficit.
Their recent winning streak included a 4-3 shootout win over the Maple Leafs last Thursday, a game in which Vegas fell behind 3-0 within the first eight-plus minutes. On Oct. 2, the Golden Knights spotted the visiting Anaheim Ducks the first four goals before rallying with three third-period tallies in a 4-3 loss.
Vegas, the only Western Conference team with 10 points, clawed within a goal again on Monday when Rasmus Andersson scored early in the second period and William Karlsson tallied just before the midway point of the third. The Golden Knights pulled goaltender Carter Hart with about 90 seconds left but failed to register a shot before Joel Eriksson Ek sealed it with an empty-netter for the Wild at 18:38.
"We're a resilient group," Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said. "But we don't want to get in the habit of always trying to come back. We want to play with the lead."
Last season, the Predators took two of three meetings against the Golden Knights, including a 4-1 win on March 21 in the only matchup in Nashville. Steven Stamkos contributed two goals and an assist in that contest.
Key Analysis
The Predators' ability to hold leads has been a concern, as evidenced by their recent overtime and shootout losses. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have shown resilience but have also developed a troubling pattern of falling behind early. Tuesday's clash will test which team can address its weaknesses and secure a crucial early-season victory.
Originally reported by losangelesherald.