While it all boils down to wins and losses in the NHL, the Nashville Predators feel like they are playing better than their 1-2 record may indicate.
The Nashville Predators just wrapped up their first three games of the regular season with a 1-2 record, but head coach Andrew Brunette and captain Roman Josi feel like there is more to this team than their early record reveals.
"I think we left some points on the board there for two games," Brunette said after practice on Monday. "I wish we got something out of it. On the road, one goal games — you'd like to get something."
The Predators dropped their games against Tampa Bay on opening day and Boston Saturday evening, but both games were within reach. Despite a sleepy start in the first period, the Predators came out in the second and third periods against the Lightning and kept the game within one goal until the final two seconds as Nikita Kucherov scored the late empty net goal. Over the weekend, the team traveled to Boston to face the Bruins and lost that game by one goal.
Captain Roman Josi knows there were lapses that cost the Predators a chance to close out close those two games, but overall he likes what he is seeing from the team as they continue to develop chemistry with teammates, clean up penalties, and find ways to capitalize on power play opportunities.
Disappointment at leaving points on the table against two postseason contending teams is mixed with an acknowledgment that this Predators team is on an encouraging trajectory.
"I think the constant theme is growth," Brunette said. "I think we're getting a little better, a little more of a handle on it each day so we can trust each other more and be more connected."
"I think there are some things we are doing really well, things that we're still working on that we're chipping away at."
"The encouraging sign is that the will to do it is there," Brunette said.
A Week of Exes for the Nashville Predators