Predators 6-1 Loss to Oilers: "The Little Details of the Game Got Us"

The Nashville Predators welcomed back Mattias Ekholm as the Edmonton Oilers came to town last night. October's schedule is particularly tough for the Preds, and this game was expected to be emotional and challenging. 

It was both. 

This was Nashville's first time seeing Mattias Ekholm skate in an Oilers jersey at Bridgestone Arena and the fan base's first opportunity to thank him for his twelve years as a Predators. After the tribute video played, the crowd roared their appreciation for Ekholm who returned the love by waving and tapping his heart. 

Ekholm emotion aside, there wasn't much to cheer about for Predators fans as the Oilers came out and took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first period. Nashville scored a quick power play goal early in the second period, but six minutes later Leon Draisaitl answered with a power play goal — his second of the game. Warren Foegele scored with five minute remaining in the second period, and neither team could finish on their shot chances in the third period. The final score was 6-1.

Going into last night's game, the 1-2 Nashville Predators felt like they had played well in their two losses but couldn't do just a little bit more to turn one goal games around. Last night's loss to the Edmonton Oilers was far more than a one goal loss, and there were several takeaways for the Predators.

Nashville needs to score a few greasy goals. 

The Predators single score came on a power play slot shot from Tommy Novak, but Novak believes the Predators can do more to score with more bodies in front of the net. 

"I guess right now it's just getting bodies to the net, maybe get some greasier goals, converting on some of these little plays that we're having," Novak said after the game.

"I'd just say bearing down and being harder in front of the net."

Captain Roman Josi agreed. 

"I think whenever you don't score, you got to find a way to get to the net and get a dirty goal," Josi said. "Maybe get a tip or a rebound. That's how we get back to scoring goals."

Head coach Andrew Brunette wants to see players get in front of the net. 

"We're a little reluctant to get to certain areas. At the end of the day, the puck always has to get to a certain area, bodies have to get there. The puck always has to get to a certain area to score. We're just not probably around it enough for the second and third opportunities."

Nashville needs to win the puck battles. 

Another area that Josi believes the team can improve is battling in small areas. 

"I think our battle level in those little areas," Josi said when asked where an adjustment could take place before Thursday's game against the New York Rangers. "That's the game, right? It's those battles, those one on one battles. We've got to find a way to win those battles."

Head coach Andrew Brunette mentioned battling in certain areas as something the team didn't do as well in the game against Edmonton.

""[There are] certain times of the game where your battle level has to raise a little bit especially in certain areas of the ice," Brunette said. "We didn't do it."

The effort is there.

One thing that Brunette is sure of - the effort is there from his team. 

""The will and the effort's there," Brunette said of the game. "It's really hard for me to get too disappointed with them because they are giving an effort."

With a bit of extra focus on a few areas, Brunette feels like the reward is going to come for the Predators soon. 

"When you work that hard, as a coach and the coaching staff and as an organization, good is going to come," Brunette said in his postgame availability. "We just have to learn some of these lessons and move forward because we did a lot of good things in the game. The little details of the game got us today."

The Predators continue their run of challenging opponents as they head to New York to face off against former head coach Peter Laviolette and the Rangers at Madison Square Garden Thursday night.