Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 11/5/17-11/11/17

The Nashville Predators will look to get its focus back on the games, and not on the trade market. The Predators were part of a three-way trade where they acquired Kyle Turris from the Ottawa Senators.

The Preds will visit the Columbus Blue Jackets and Seth Jones on Tuesday night. The Predators will then have off three days before they take on the defending champions, Pittsburgh Penguins, at home.

Nashville's schedule seems to be more spread out this week, as does the rest of the NHL. They play a game and then have off a few days before playing its next game.


Nashville needs to get off to a good start, and then play a complete road game since the Blue Jackets have been very good on home ice this season. The Predators will need to find a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Blue Jackets, who can score in bunches or win a tight game. The Preds will need to be aware of when Seth Jones and Zach Werenski are on the ice since they have combined for 22 points on the top pairing for Columbus so far. Nashville will need to make sure that they get the first goal of the game, and have the period going into the third period since they are 5-1-0 with the lead versus 2-3-1 when trailing entering the third period. The Predators are going to need to get plenty of traffic in front of the opposition's net especially if Sergei Bobrovsky is there because if he can see the puck then he will make the save.

The Blue Jackets need to stay out of the penalty box since Nashville has a decent overall power play. Columbus will also need to get the first goal of the game since the Predators are 4-0-2 when getting the first goal, while only 3-5-0 when allowing the first goal. The Blue Jackets will need to continue their dominance at even strength this season, to have a chance at beating the Predators. Columbus needs to be aware of the puck-moving defensemen of Nashville, and also needs to find a way to stop Filip Forsberg, who leads the Preds with 14 points on the year.

The Penguins come to Nashville for a rematch of the last season's Stanley Cup Final. The Predators will need to find way to stop Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin and Phil Kessel. Nashville needs to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd loud and in the game. The Preds will want to have the lead entering the third period since the Penguins aren't the best come-from-behind team in the third period this year. Nashville needs to get some pucks on net since the goaltending has been stellar for the Pens this year so far. The Preds also may want to stay out of the penalty box since the Pens have some guys that can flat out produce on the power play.

The Penguins will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Preds have a decent power play, and they have been mediocre on the penalty kill. Pittsburgh needs to play a better first period than they have been since they are getting outscored 22-11 in first periods this year. The Pens must play a good, solid game when even strength since they have been absolutely dominated at 5-on-5 this year. Pittsburgh should find a way to get some pucks on the net, and get some traffic in front of the Nashville goal.