The Predators are looking to build off their first win of the season and hold off one of the best shooters in the NHL in Connor Bedard.
The Predators are looking to build off their first win of the season and hold off one of the best shooters in the NHL in Connor Bedard.
The Nashville Predators have to follow up their big shutout win against the Boston Bruins with another win. The first win of the season closed the gap a bit after their season-opening five-game losing streak, but the Chicago Blackhawks are a favourable team to try to get another win against.
Despite adding a lot of good pieces this off-season, the Blackhawks still haven't been great with a record of 2-4-1.
Chicago is looking to Connor Bedard to take a big step forward this season, and while he has seven points in seven games, the sniper has just one goal on 25 shots and 45 shot attempts. The Blackhawks' superstar has scored just two goals in his last 21 games despite 49 individual scoring chances. He has just a 2.5 shooting percentage in those games.
That number of scoring chances is 20 more than the next closest Blackhawks in that span. Bedard's shot is incredible and the Predators have been leaky this season. That changed with Juuse Saros' 33 save shutout that led to the team's first win, but the numbers still aren't great overall.
The Predators have allowed 23 goals this season, but only two of them have been against the top Nashville penalty kill. The team has allowed 3.83 goals against per game and the team SV% is just .865.
Like the Predators, the Blackhawks have only scored on four of their 40+ high danger chances this season at 5-on-5. The Blackhawks have also scored fewer goals than expected. At some point that is going to return to the mean at least a little bit like it should with Nashville.
The Predators were due for a game like the one they won against the Bruins, but in the battle against Chicago, Bedard is also due to put a couple of goals in the back of the net. Saros can really turn it on and perform like the best goalie in the league. That potential was shown in his first win of the season and can stretch for a number of games in a row. While he doesn't necessarily have to shut out the Blackhawks as well, another big performance is needed.
It is much less of a hole to dig out of if the Predators are 2-5-0 rather than 1-6-0 and that strong first win was given back. Nashville doesn't just have to worry about Bedard though. Teuvo Teravainen and Seth Jones have also had nice starts to the season. Bedard will be shooting and the Predators just have to postpone his overdue big night.
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