Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Predators' first win doesn't mask tumultuous start

By Natalie Vaitas | Last updated Oct 23, 2024 5:14 PM ET

Offseason champions may not be the title that the Nashville Predators want right now. After an 0-5 start, they finally secured their first win of the season Tuesday night, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of questions surrounding them.

The Predators had an eventful offseason this past summer, adding top forward free agents Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, along with defenseman Brady Skjei. In addition to those external moves, they also signed star goaltender Juuse Saros to a long-term, eight-year extension worth $61.9M.

Those moves haven't been enough, however, as Nashville has struggled mightily this season. Stamkos and Marchessault both have just one goal each; for Stamkos, that remains his only point of the season. Saros has just a .903 save percentage this season, which ranks 21st among goaltenders who have played in three games or more and is far below his career .917 average.

Can the Predators find their footing this season? They'll need to, seeing as no team that has started the season 0-5 in the salary cap era has ever made the playoffs, and just six have made it prior to 1995-96.

The Predators are 0-5-0. In the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68), 17 teams (excluding NSH) have started a season with at least five consecutive regulation losses. Six have made the playoffs — none since 1995-96.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) October 19, 2024

For one thing, they'll need to have better on-ice luck. According to MoneyPuck, Nashville is last in five-on-five PDO, which is a measurement of on-ice shooting percentage and on-ice save percentage. This includes a 31st-ranked shooting percentage of 4.83%.

Interestingly enough, the Predators rank 11th in expected goals per 60, with 2.63. What does this mean? Nashville is getting opportunities, but they aren't finishing them. Combine that with some poor goaltending (they rank 30th in five-on-five save percentage) and it's no surprise they've struggled to start the season.

The good news for Predators fans is that their other stars have been contributing. Ryan O'Reilly, Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi have a combined 17 points in six games this season. After achieving their first win, they'll look to ride that momentum to help them rise up the ranks in a tough central division.

Natalie Vaitas

Natalie Vaitas is a sports writer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received her Sport Management degree from Aquinas College in 2021, where she was a member of the women's hockey team. She has experience covering the NHL and her hometown Detroit Red Wings; she also enjoys attending Michigan football games with her family.

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