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Nashville Predators on The Hockey News
Predators' Defensive Production is a Big Problem in First Round Series
By Rob Couch,
2024-04-28
The Nashville Predators' production offensively from their defensemen has gone completely dry in the playoffs and it is part of the problem as to why the team is behind 2-1 in the Round 1 series against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Predators have scored just seven goals through three games and more than half of them (four) have come in their one win which included an empty-net goal. With just three goals in their losses, that isn't a recipe for success and won't win hockey games most of the time.
With seven total goals scored, that means that there are a possible 21 points that could have been produced by the members of the team. There have only been two points recorded by defensemen in the series, the worst mark of the 16 teams and one of only two teams under 1.00 point-per-game by the entire back-end.
The only two points from defensemen came in losses. Roman Josi had an assist on the opening goal for the Predators in the series, then Alexandre Carrier assisted on the most recent Predators goal in Game 3, the only goal Nashville scored.
The Predators have 0.66 points-per-game from defensemen and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only other team that is below 1.00 points-per-game from d-men as well.
During the regular season the defensemen of the Predators recorded 2.35 points-per-game as a unit. This is a massive fall-off and games being tighter can't be an excuse at this point in the series. The Canucks have their backup goalie in net and other teams' back-ends are scoring a good amount as eight of the teams have over 2.00 points-per-game from their defense.
There are still at least two games left in the series and more scoring help from the Predators defensemen is a must if the team wants to produce more goals. Stopping pucks hasn't been the issue in this series, and if Nashville can figure it out, they have a good chance at moving on.
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