Predators seek more consistent play as Golden Knights visit
Andrew Brunette wants Nashville to build on its road trip as a three-game homestand begins Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
The Nashville Predators begin a three-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. CT.
Coach Andrew Brunette wants Nashville to sustain the stronger stretches it showed during its recent trip through eastern Canada. Speaking after Monday’s practice, he described Saturday’s game in Ottawa as one of the team’s more complete performances and said the challenge was to maintain that approach for 60 minutes.
Nashville collected four of a possible six points on the three-game trip, which ended with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Senators. Captain Roman Josi said facing Vegas would give the Predators a useful test at the start of the homestand.
The club kept its practice lines and defence pairs unchanged from Saturday. Jayden Struble worked alongside Adam Wilsby after his Nashville debut, while rookie Vitali Pinchuk remained between Ross Colton and Alex Kerfoot. Those were Monday’s combinations rather than a confirmed lineup for Tuesday.
Pinchuk recorded an assist on Colton’s goal in his NHL debut in Ottawa. Brunette also praised Struble’s positioning and skating after the defenceman joined the club.
Steven Stamkos leads Nashville with three goals and seven points. Stamkos and Josi have recorded a point in each of the team’s first five games, according to the Predators’ game-day report. Nashville’s power play has scored six times on 19 opportunities, a 31.6 per cent success rate.
Tuesday is the first of three scheduled meetings between Nashville and Vegas this season.
