If the Nashville Predators are to keep away from setting the franchise document for many consecutive losses, they must do it with out their undisputed chief.
On a 0-5-1 highway skid, the Predators shall be with out captain Roman Josi on Thursday in opposition to the host Dallas Stars.
The Stars are on the lookout for their fifth straight house win whereas sending the Predators to their ninth consecutive defeat on Thursday night time.
Nashville’s swoon has dropped it right into a tie with Chicago with an NHL-low 20 factors. The Predators, who additionally boast a league-worst seven wins, have totaled simply 14 targets throughout the 0-5-3 slide. Their final win got here in opposition to visiting Winnipeg on Nov. 23.
“It is a robust league,” stated ahead Jonathan Marchessault, who elevated his season aim complete to seven with two in Tuesday’s 4-3 house loss to Calgary.
“One thing I noticed with time is it by no means will get simpler. So, you have to embrace the grind and embrace the adversity that you just face as a person, and as a workforce additionally.
“And, I feel that is how one can come out on prime and are available out (higher).”
Doing so doubtless will not be straightforward for the Predators with out Josi, who sustained a lower-body harm within the first interval of Tuesday’s recreation. He was dominated out for Thursday’s recreation and is listed as day-to-day.
Nashville has been with out Ryan O’Reilly, however the star ahead will return after lacking three video games with a lower-body harm. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon may also return after sitting out seven video games with a lower-body harm. Ahead Gustav Nyquist is day-to-day after sitting out Tuesday because of sickness.
“Clearly, you by no means change Roman Josi,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette stated. “However, I feel it provides us … organizationally, an opportunity to see these guys with extra minutes and what they’ve.”
The Predators head to Dallas, the place the Stars are 11-2-0 and have outscored their opponents 19-8 throughout a four-game house successful streak. Defenseman Thomas Harley scored two of Dallas’ 4 targets within the third interval, and Jason Robertson completed the sport with a aim with an help throughout Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Calgary to open a six-game house stretch.
“Each recreation is essential,” stated Harley, who doubled his aim depend. “Trying ahead to get again to it.”
Dallas broke out Sunday after being held to 2 targets in every of its earlier three contests.
“It begins with doing the proper issues, and we capitalize on the alternatives,” stated Stars ahead Sam Metal, who registered his third aim of the season on Sunday.
Robertson, who posted 41 targets in 2021-22 and 46 in 2022-23, fell to 29 final season and has simply six this season. Nevertheless, he has 10 targets in 21 video games in opposition to Nashville, and the final one got here throughout Dallas’ 4-3 highway win within the season opener on Oct. 10.
The Stars’ Jake Oettinger made 33 saves in that contest. He is additionally 10-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against common and .929 save proportion at house this season. Backup Casey DeSmith has a 2.05 GAA whereas splitting his two house begins in 2024-25.
In the meantime, Predators star Juuse Saros owns a hefty 3.46 goals-against common throughout his present 0-4-3 beginning rut.
Marchessault is third on the workforce with 15 factors this season, however solely three have come throughout 15 highway video games.
–Subject Degree Media
