It was one of the worst periods of Predators hockey in...well, a very long time.
The Predators were outshot 18-1 in the first period Thursday night at home by Central Division rival Dallas Stars in what would eventually be a 9-2 Predators' loss. According to naturalstattrick.com, the Stars possessed the puck more than twice the time Nashville did in the opening period, and that statistic seems low compared to the eye test in the first twenty minutes.
The Predators scored twice in the second period, but Nashville never came close to recovering from an abysmal first period. Kevin Lankinen came in after the first intermission for Juuse Saros who was, in the words of veteran Ryan McDonagh "left out to dry" in the first period. The team wasn't much better in front of Lankinen.
In a stretch of hockey that will decide the Predators playoff fate and the future of a handful of players on the roster, Nashville played a sloppy, undisciplined, and unmotivated game.
Head coach Andrew Brunette said that the first twenty minutes were perhaps one of the worst periods of hockey he's been a part of in a very long time. He was extremely disappointed in the team's performance.
"I think just disappointed in the mindset since the break, really," Brunette said. "I think in the Arizona game we didn't play very good for two periods and were able to sneak something out of that."
"It was evident tonight we got what we deserved."
"It's disappointing," Brunette said. "I think it can only be addressed so many times. Either we're not taking it serious enough or we're not understanding. The response and the mindset is really disappointing."
Mindset is a big concern for Brunette especially at this point in the season.
"I think [they are] not understanding where we're at or having trouble getting their mind around what's important. That's hockey. It's not everything else that goes around hockey, it's the game of hockey," Brunette said.
"I don't know if we're understanding the importance that our mind has to be in the game. It can't be in our vacations."
The Predators head out on a five game road trip where they hope they can get back on track.
"Probably a good thing for us to get on the road and get that road warrior mentality here," McDonagh said.
Nashville will face St Louis on Saturday afternoon.
More must-reads: