Predators Need to "Keep Plugging" on Scoring Chances

Last night the Nashville Predators lost an important game and two valuable points to the LA Kings by a score of 4-2. The Predators outshot the Kings 41-24 including two shorthanded chances, seven power play shots, and 32 shots on goal at even strength. Filip Forsberg and Phil Tomasino scored on net front opportunities in the third period, but too many chances went unfinished. 

It wasn't just in quantity of looks in which Nashville had the advantage. The Predators generated nearly twice as many high danger chances according to Natural Stat Trick and had an xGF (expected goals for) of 2.74 compared to the Kings' 1.31. This was another game in which the Predators had more opportunities to score but didn't finish. 

Scoring has been hard to come by for the Predator recently. In their last eight games, the Predators have been outscored by their opponents 26-15. In five of those eight games, Nashville recorded more shots on goal than their opponents as well. It's a situation that has the team feeling a little frustrated. 

"Tough result," Roman Josi said after the 4-2 loss to LA. "I thought we played pretty well to be quite honest."

"Had a lot of chances, especially in the third. I think we hit the posts maybe three or four times," Josi said. 

Nashville outshot the Kings 18-3 in the final period. 

It's happened a couple of times," Josi said about losing games in which the Predators create quality chances against an opponent but come up short. 

"Obviously we want to score goals, but you got to be able to create chances and that's the only thing you can control. Everybody wants to score in here. You want to score a goal."

Filip Forsberg agreed. 

"I think that's been the theme a little bit as of late," Forsberg said of outplaying a team but not scoring enough to win.

"Especially in the third, we're playing great. There's nothing else we can do really but put the puck in the net."

Andrew Brunette liked what he saw from the team but believes the missing key is that scoring touch.

"I loved our effort. I loved our game," Brunette said postgame. "Besides those few little details we missed out on, I thought we did all the things that makes us a good team."

"Unfortunately we didn't finish. I thought we created, I thought we played a lot of pace. I thought we had the puck most of the game."

While Brunette saw lots of good from the Predators, the inability to put up more goals cost the team. 

"I think it's just the confidence to finish," Brunette said. "Maybe we got a lot of guys squeezing sticks. I think we put ourselves in opportunities to win a hockey game. I think we created more than our fair share and they didn't go in."

The solution isn't complicated but it also isn't easy. 

"We've got to make sure we wherever it is — in practice or whatever — we've got to make or score some goals and make sure we finish," Josi said. 

FIlip Forsberg says it is more practice and repetition. 

"We just got to go home and shoot pucks and put them in," he said. 

Andrew Brunette wants his team to keep generating those chances. 

"You just got to keep plugging," Brunette said. "You keep knocking on that door before you're busting that door, before it opens."

"We're really kicking the crap out of it. It just doesn't open."

The Predators will have nine days off for the All Star break to be ready to come back and finish on their scoring chances down the stretch. They will face Central division rival Arizona Coyotes on February 10.