The Preds will play two games at home this week and another one on the road. Nashville will start their week off by taking on the Boston Bruins, who are playing better of late and have gotten some key injured players back into the lineup. On Tuesday night, the Preds will play the second game of a back-to-back set in Dallas against the Stars, who are on a winning streak of their own. It will be a big chance for Nashville to pick up two big points within the division. The Predators will end their week by facing the Golden Knights, who have been a surprise in the early going, at home.
Nashville will need to have a good game at even strength since the special teams of the Bruins have been decent so far. The Preds will need to stop the top line of the Bruins, especially David Pastrnak, who leads the team in goals and points. The Predators are going to need to be good with the puck and avoid turnovers and costly mistakes, which the Bruins can force a team into making. Nashville will need to have a good game from the goalie, Pekka Rinne since the Bruins will get their chances. The Preds will need to keep an eye on Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug since they both like to jump into the offensive zone, and can set up teammates.
The Bruins will need to keep the play of good special teams going in this game since the Predators can put the puck in the net on the power play. Boston will need to keep a eye of Filip Forsberg, who leads the team in goals and points. The Bruins will want to have the lead entering the final frame of the game since they have only gained a point in one of the eight games when trailing after the second period. Boston will need to get the first goal of the game and take the raucous Nashville crowd out of the game. The Bruins are going to need to play a solid, 60 minute road game and bring the team defense.
On Tuesday night, the Predators have a chance to gain two big points in the Central Division. Nashville will need to have the lead entering the third period since they have yet to win a game when trailing going into the third period. The Preds will need to get it together on the power play since they are only converting 12.5% of its opportunities while away from home. Nashville is going to have to rely on team defense meaning the forwards and goalie will also have to be good. The Predators will need to keep a eye on defenseman John Klingberg, who leads the team in assists.
Dallas will need to stop the balanced attack of the Predators and a good way to do that is to get the forecheck going early to get some sustained offensive zone time. The Stars will need to watch Nashville's defensemen as they like to join the play on the rush or even lead the rush into the offensive zone. The Stars are going to need to stay out of the penalty box, and get a good game from the starting goaltending. Dallas will want to get the first goal of the game, and avoid the turnovers in the neutral zone since the Preds have some speed in the transition game.
The Preds finish off their week with a game against the Golden Knights. Nashville will need to keep an eye on the red hot William Karlsson, who leads Vegas in goals and points. The Predators will need to play a consistent game for 60 minutes and not slack off once they have the lead or in the final period of the game where they have been outscored 33-22 so far on the year. The Preds will need to have a lead entering the third period. The special teams of the Predators will need to be good, as will the goaltending to have a chance at winning the game. Nashville needs to be better at even strength especially since the Golden Knights are decent at even strength play themselves this year.
Vegas will need to have a good game from their starting goaltender, whomever that may be by the time the puck drops on Friday night. The Golden Knights will need to be aware of the transition speed of the Preds. Vegas needs to have a better third period since Nashville has also been struggling to finish games. The Golden Knights need to avoid turnovers and mistakes with the puck since Nashville can make one pay for turnovers. Vegas is going to need to be aware of where Forsberg is when he is on the ice.
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