If the Nashville Predators are to keep away from setting the franchise report for many consecutive losses, they must do it with out their undisputed chief.
On a 0-5-1 highway skid, the Predators will probably be with out captain Roman Josi on Thursday towards the host Dallas Stars.
The Stars are searching for their fifth straight dwelling win whereas sending the Predators to their ninth consecutive defeat on Thursday evening.
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 objectives through the 0-5-3 slide. Their final win got here towards visiting Winnipeg on Nov. 23.
“It is a powerful league,” stated ahead Jonathan Marchessault, who elevated his season purpose whole to seven with two in Tuesday’s 4-3 dwelling 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 simply face as a person, and as a crew additionally.
“And, I believe that is how one can come out on high and are available out (higher).”
Doing so seemingly will not be simple 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 resulting from sickness.
“Clearly, you by no means substitute Roman Josi,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette stated. “However, I believe it offers 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 dwelling successful streak. Defenseman Thomas Harley scored two of Dallas’ 4 objectives within the third interval, and Jason Robertson completed the sport with a purpose with an help throughout Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Calgary to open a six-game dwelling stretch.
“Each recreation is necessary,” stated Harley, who doubled his purpose depend. “Trying ahead to get again to it.”
Dallas broke out Sunday after being held to 2 objectives in every of its earlier three contests.
“It begins with doing the fitting issues, and we capitalize on the alternatives,” stated Stars ahead Sam Metal, who registered his third purpose of the season on Sunday.
Robertson, who posted 41 objectives in 2021-22 and 46 in 2022-23, fell to 29 final season and has simply six this season. Nonetheless, he has 10 objectives in 21 video games towards 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 share at dwelling this season. Backup Casey DeSmith has a 2.05 GAA whereas splitting his two dwelling 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 crew with 15 factors this season, however solely three have come throughout 15 highway video games.
–Area Degree Media
