Keys to Watch
Back Home
After a five game road trip, the Nashville Predators will finally make it back to Bridgestone Arena as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:00 pm. The Preds will now have an extended home stand as they play the next four games in Nashville against Carolina, Ottawa, St. Louis and Anaheim. Nashville will hope to have a better November than they did in October. This month has started on a positive note with three out of four points ending a troubled month of October. Making it back home should right the ship and improve their 3-5-2 record.
Production
Goal scoring from the Nashville Predators top players has been virtually non-existent ten games into the 2016-17 season. The group of Filip Forsberg, James Neal, and Ryan Johansen has two goals among the trio so far this season. On a positive note, Johansen was able to get on the board with his first goal of the season against the Colorado Avalanche on November 1st. Neal has not scored since October 29th at San Jose. Forsberg is the lone member of this trio that has not scored this season. The Predators need these three to step up and begin producing where they finished off last season.
Scouting the Canes
The Carolina Hurricanes are struggling this season on defense and have allowed 32 goals this season which places them ninth in the NHL for the most goals allowed. Their offense is playing well while averaging 2.78 goals per game. Carolina is second in the NHL in face-offs this season winning 55.3% of their chances and play excellent on the penalty-kill as they are seventh in the NHL at 86.2%. The Canes are playing well on offense, yet struggling this season defensively. The Predators need to make sure to score early and hunker down defensively. Nashville is struggling defensively this season allowing 3.10 goals against per game and need to become consistent on both ends of the ice.
Tonight’s match-up will be another tough test for the under-performing Predators. Be sure to catch all of the action on Fox Sports-Tennessee or you can listen live on 102.5 The Game. Puck drops at 7:00 pm!
