One of the Kraken’s elements of success last season was not losing more than three games in a row. Saturday’s defeat makes it 0-4 on the current homestand with Buffalo in town already, bags stored at Climate Pledge Arena, here to play Monday. The homestand represents the third four-game losing streak of the season to go with an eight-game winless streak that was quickly followed by an 11-0-2 point streak that stoked playoff hopes while a two-game sweep of Calgary and Winnipeg right before this homestand did the same.
“Our work ethic was good tonight, our compete was good in our defensive zone,” said Dave Hakstol post-game in a short meeting with the media. “We just spent a little bit too much time in our D-zone. There wasn't enough time in the offensive zone, especially in the first two periods. We came up with some good opportunities and when we were able to come up with the puck, we made some good things happen. But it's tough to score in the offensive zone off the cycle in this league.”
Nashville’s defensive corps was intentional and physical from the early shifts Saturday. One example: Luke Schenn knocked down Jared McCann early in the first period and doubled with a hard check late in the opening frame.
Hakstol acknowledged Nashville is a “big team” while focusing less on net-front hits and more on how the Predators were winning puck battles and getting pucks out along the walls of their own zone. They weren’t giving up many retrievals and second sets of plays to Seattle. Not glamorous or always noticed by fans, but coaches study video closely for wall play.
“That's an area where we weren't efficient enough tonight,” said Hakstol. “They're a heavy team there ... we had too many plays die there, rather than be advanced.”
Momentum Swings in First 20 Minutes
The Kraken brought early energy to the start of Saturday’s game, another must-win proposition. They nearly scored at the five-minute mark when defenseman Jamie Oleksiak joined the rush and then some. He outskated a couple of Nashville defenders and beat elite goalie Juuse Saros.
Just one problem, the rising shot rang off the crossbar and kept the scoresheet without entries until Nashville’s Tommy Novak looked to pass cross-ice and net front to wide-open linemate Luke Evangelista at SEA goalie Philipp Grubauer’s “back door.” But Novak’s feed never made it to his teammate, instead caroming off Kraken D-man Justin Schultz’s skate. The puck slid past Grubauer, first hitting his leg pad. Bad luck and a second straight goal over two games that the opponents scored without shooting directly on net.
The first period finished with Nashville showing why it started the night with a 13-game point streak, sitting atop the Western Conference wild-card standings. The Predators, well rested after a 4-2 win at Winnipeg last Wednesday, doubled the home squad’s shots on goal, 10 to 5.
Nashville Rising
When 33-year-old Ryan O’Reilly center signed with Nashville last summer, he had several reasons for the move, including previous relationships with new GM Barry Trotz and coach Andrew Burnette. He also liked the blend of Nashville veterans such as Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi, plus two-time Stanley Cup-winning Ryan McDonough, playing on a roster with promising young players, including Tommy Novak and Luke Evangelista.
It didn’t hurt O’Reilly’s enthusiasm when Trotz (he coached Nashville for its first 15 seasons with seven playoff appearances) added defenseman Luke Schenn and Gustav Nyqvist to the lineup. During O’Reilly’s introductory press conference, he asked a question himself: “Why can’t we contend?” Nashville turned its season around from sellers to buyers at the trade deadline with the ongoing 14-game point streak.
O’Reilly and Nyqvist are making Trotz look wise in his inaugural turn as an NHL GM – and profoundly supporting O’Reilly’s summertime musing – by teaming up with Forsberg to put up some gaudy first-line numbers: Forsberg (35 goals, 36 assists), Nyqvist (already a career-high 59 points with 18 goals and 41 assists), O’Reilly (24 G, 32 A).
Kudos to Kraken Fans
The Seattle squad did not reach double-digits in shots on goal until less than five minutes in the middle period. To its credit, the Climate Pledge Arena crowd didn’t deter from supporting the home squad throughout the first 40 minutes. Lots of boos for Nashville D-man Luke Schenn for decking Jared McCann early in the game and then slamming the Kraken’s leading scorer into the end boards of the Predators zone late first period.
When former Kraken defenseman Jeremy Lauzon hit fan favorite Brandon Tanev late second period, Lauzon held his former teammate too long and watching a replay shows Tanev was vulnerable and fortunate it wasn’t worse. Linemate Kailer Yamamoto took exception and raced to confront Lauzon despite giving up six inches of height and some 70 pounds. The Kraken faithful loved Yamamoto’s moxy and roared approval.
Yamamoto, always the pro and happy to get a start at third-line center between Tanev and the aforementioned Andre Burakovsky, was matter-of-fact about his rush on Lauzon, size mismatch and all: “Just didn't like the head, trying to stick up for my teammate.”
