The Nashville Predators had a handful of quality chances to tie the game against the Florida Panthers in the third period, but weren't able to finish on those opportunities.
The Nashville Predators lost to the Florida Panthers by a somewhat deceptive 4-1 final score last night capped off by two Florida empty net goals. It was the Predators' second loss in a row, and head coach Andrew Brunette felt like the team's inability to finish on quality chances may have cost them the game.
"I think we generated a bunch tonight, or some tonight — enough to put us into at least an overtime game," Brunette said postgame.
"We're not finishing. It's kind of been a little bit of the story here over the last week or parts of the season here."
While the Predators were outshot 38-27 overall, a few late chances didn't find the back of the net. Panthers goaltender Anthony Stolarz had one of his better performances of the season and twice robbed the Predators of two late point black chances by Gus Nyquist and Tommy Novak. According to Natural Stat Trick, Nashville had six high danger chances in the game compared to Florida's four.
Brunette believes part of the problem could be related to confidence, especially with some of the younger players.
"I think a lot of guys probably lack a little confidence right now," he said.
"That's why you'd like to get some bounces for some of these kids and maybe you feel better. We haven't been able to do that."
It's an issue that has cost the Predators important points recently.
"Leaving points on the board, kind of a similar story to the Arizona game where you had some opportunities," Brunette said.
Of last night's loss Brunette said, "You know, we get rid of that first, and put ourselves in a pretty good opportunity going in the third at home, and get nothing out of it."
The Predators have had to rely heavily on their top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gus Nyquist for offense as some of the younger players work to find the back of the net which hasn't come easily of late. Helping the young players find that confidence is a challenge.
"It's hard. I mean, that's the hardest thing especially for your young players," Brunette said when asked how you help players get their confidence.
"It's tough. We've all gone through those roller coasters of losing it and how do you regain it. I think as you go forward, you start figuring it out, but right now we're kind of in one a little bit that way."
That confidence can be contagious, and if one or two players down the Predators line up can get going offensively, it can help other players struggling to find the back of the net as well.
The Predators will have to continue working through this as they head back out on the road later this week for their next three games against the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Ottawa Senators.