This week the Nashville Predators learned a tough lesson against the Vancouver Canucks, changed up the lineup, surprised the Maple Leafs with an OT win, and tried their hands at a whole new sport.
This week the Nashville Predators got extra practice time in with just two games on a schedule getting ready to ramp up with a five game western road trip. Those two games provided the Predators with a tough lesson and two valuable overtime points.
A slow start and missed opportunities late cost the Predators in their Tuesday night game against a hot Vancouver Canucks team.
"I didn't really like the first half of the game," Andrew Brunette said at Wednesday's practice. "It wasn't one of our best efforts all the way around."
Predators - 2, Canucks - 3: Sissons, Sherwood Score But Missed Opportunities Late Cost Preds
Brunette and the players felt like Vancouver beat Nashville at their own game.
A "Golden Rule" Game in Predators Loss to Canucks
The Predators got back to work after the disappointing loss to the Canucks and were able to defeat a stacked Toronto Maple Leafs team Saturday night in overtime.
Predators - 3, Maple Leafs - 2 (OT): O'Reilly Scores Two Power Play Goals, Josi Scores OT Winner
Brunette felt like the team still got off to a slower start against the Leafs than he wanted to.
"I thought we started a little slow. Didn't love our first period," Brunette said postgame. "I thought after that we got to our game."
Predators Shock Maple Leafs: Special Teams, Saros Steal OT Win
Liam Foudy made his Nashville debut on Saturday night against Toronto. It was a challenging first game, but Foudy talked earlier in the week about getting a fresh start with the Predators.
Liam Foudy: "A Fresh Start Is Always Nice"
There was plenty of action this week away from the ice at Bridgestone Arena. Three Predators prospects found early season success scoring their first professional goals.
Three Predators Prospects Score First Professional Goals This Week
The Nashville Predators' players participated in several community relations outings during the week. Tommy Novak and Kiefer Sherwood have started the season hot in hockey but found there is a bit of a learning curve when they tried their hands at goalball with student athletes from the Tennessee School for the Blind.
Kiefer Sherwood and Tommy Novak Try Goalball: "We're Rookies But I Think We Got Better Today"