The Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers are each looking to get the win tonight at Bridgestone Arena.
The Nashville Predators took the ice this morning at Bridgestone Arena to get ready for tonight's game against the Florida Panthers. The Predators return to home ice after a three game road trip in which the team went 1-2. While the team felt they played well against Vegas, L.A., and Arizona, coming home with just two points was frustrating.
"I thought actually the Vegas game, I thought we played a pretty good game," Roman Josi said. "Obviously didn't get the result."
"Had a good game in L.A. and found a way to win, and I thought Arizona was a little up and down. I think we gave them a little too much time and space. They had a lot of looks, a lot of chances. Obviously you always want to come home with a winning record, so that wasn't great."
"It was disappointing, but it's over with," Ryan O'Reilly said of the road trip.
"I think if we'd have found a way to get on the board earlier [against Arizona], kind of loosen us up a bit. We don't get on the board and they score, I think mentally you kind of feel, not stress, but just a little frustration starts to kick in."
"Don't score early with a bunch of opportunities, kind of get a little frustrated, and start gripping the stick a little tighter," O'Reilly said.
"It's a good lesson that we've got to stick with it. You've got to stay within the game and keep going with it."
Jan 20, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates a goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY SportsAndrew Brunette agreed that the team did a lot of things well on the road.
"When you get three games that you feel pretty good about it's a good road trip," he said after morning skate. "Of course, you'd like some results though."
The Predators will be looking for results tonight as they face Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have lost four in a row but collected a point in two of those overtime losses.
"They're one of the best teams in the league," Josi said of the Panthers. "Guys like Reinhart and Tkachuk are going to be right in front of the net, and they're really good in that zone right in front of the net tipping pucks and getting goals in there."
"It's a big test for us, especially for us defensemen right in front of the net."
Tonight will be Andrew Brunette's first time facing his former team as the head coach of the Predators, and while the focus is on getting the win for Nashville, the game comes with some mixed emotions for Brunette.
"It's never fun playing your former team," Brunette said. "But my time there was awesome, I was very grateful to be around that group."
"I've had to move enough teams over the years that especially the first couple, you never really enjoy them."
May 11, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette gestures from the bench during the third period of game five of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsBrunette made a few adjustments to the lines at morning skate:
Forsberg - O'Reilly - Nyquist
Sherwood - Novak - Evangelista
Trenin - Sissons - Gurianov
Smith - McCarron - Tomasino
Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Schenn
Lauzon - Carrier
Juuse Saros was first off the ice and is expected to get the start in net tonight.
The Predators and Panthers drop the puck tonight at 7:00 pm CT.