Statistics tell one story, the scoreboard tells another, so what are Predators fans supposed to think about this Nashville Predators team?

The Nashville Predators may have felt a bit of hockey déjà vu in their Thursday night 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. It was another game in which the statistics told one story, but the scoreboard told another. Against the Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, Nashville finished the games leading in statistics like shots on goal, time of possession, and high danger chances but losing the game. Nashville's overall performance against the Kraken was another game in which the Predators were close but not close enough. 

Predators need more second and third chances

While Nashville led in high danger chances last night against the Kraken 16-6, what they didn't have enough of were quick second and third chances in front of Philipp Grubauer. There were quality shots on net, but the Preds need to get inside and score those "greasy" goals that come as a result of net front scrambles. Well placed shots like Tommy Novak and Roman Josi scored with last night are terrific, but Nashville also has to be able to generate offense in the gritty area. 

The Predators erred on the side of getting back defensively, and against a fast transition team like the Kraken it is a challenging balance to find. At some point though Nashville will have to set aside pretty for gritty when it comes to scoring goals. 

Predators need Forsberg to become "Scoresberg"

It is hard to feel frustrated about a player who leads the team in points, shots on goal, and  individual expected goals for and is second in individual high danger chances for. Filip Forsberg is doing so much so well so far this season, but Nashville needs him to start finishing on the quality chances he is generating. 

Last season Forsberg finished second on the team in goals despite missing 32 games due to injury. In 2021-22 he was a 40 goal scorer for the team, and Barry Trotz felt confident enough in Forsberg's ability to produce offensively that he bought out Matt Duchene.  Forsberg has nine points in ten games but only one goal. There is no doubt that Forsberg is going to find the back of the net again and be off and running offensively, but it is head scratching to see the stats he has racked up in the beginning of the season not convert into goals...yet. When that happens, the Predators could win games like the one they lost last night to the Kraken. 

Perspective check: Was this a bad loss or a bad feeling?

The loss last night might not be so disappointing if it didn't feel vaguely familiar. How many losses in the beginning and middle of last season felt like the Predators could have gotten the win but just didn't? The statistics tell us Nashville could have gotten the win over the Kraken last night and didn't, but let me assure you that this isn't the same kind of loss that deflated fans in 2022. 

Expectations for the Nashville Predators' season were difficult to set even after seeing the players begin to meld together into something resembling a team in training camp and their preseason games. Andrew Brunette has taken a team with a handful of remaining Predators veterans, veterans added in the offseason, and young players just learning how to play in the NHL and gotten them to buy into a new system and vision. Barry Trotz has been crystal clear that the franchise is resetting which likely means a step back before they will make strides forward.

It's fair to hate the loss, but in light of what the franchise is trying to do, you have to like most of what this team has shown. No, the league doesn't bump a team up in the standings for defying expectations. Only wins do that. But to see what the Nashville Predators are capable of just ten games into this season is laudable and fans will get to see continued growth as young players develop and veteran players like Forsberg find their groove.

Despite the team being 4-6, it's still a good time to follow the Nashville Predators.