If the Nashville Predators are to avoid setting the franchise record for most consecutive losses, they will have to do it without their undisputed leader.
On a 0-5-1 road skid, the Predators will be without captain Roman Josi on Thursday against the host Dallas Stars.
The Stars are looking for their fifth straight home win while sending the Predators to their ninth consecutive defeat on Thursday night.
Nashville’s swoon has dropped it into a tie with Chicago with an NHL-low 20 points. The Predators, who also boast a league-worst seven wins, have totaled just 14 goals during the 0-5-3 slide. Their last win came against visiting Winnipeg on Nov. 23.
“It’s a tough league,” said forward Jonathan Marchessault, who increased his season goal total to seven with two in Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Calgary.
“Something I realized with time is it never gets easier. So, you’ve got to embrace the grind and embrace the adversity that you face as an individual, and as a team also.
“And, I think that’s how you can come out on top and come out (better).”
Doing so likely won’t be easy for the Predators without Josi, who sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of Tuesday’s game. He was ruled out for Thursday’s game and is listed as day-to-day.
Nashville has been without Ryan O’Reilly, but the star forward will return after missing three games with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon will also return after sitting out seven games with a lower-body injury. Forward Gustav Nyquist is day-to-day after sitting out Tuesday due to illness.
“Obviously, you never replace Roman Josi,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “But, I think it gives us … organizationally, a chance to see these guys with more minutes and what they have.”
The Predators head to Dallas, where the Stars are 11-2-0 and have outscored their opponents 19-8 during a four-game home winning streak. Defenseman Thomas Harley scored two of Dallas’ four goals in the third period, and Jason Robertson finished the game with a goal with an assist during Sunday’s 6-2 victory over Calgary to open a six-game home stretch.
“Every game is important,” said Harley, who doubled his goal count. “Looking forward to get back to it.”
Dallas broke out Sunday after being held to two goals in each of its previous three contests.
“It starts with doing the right things, and we capitalize on the opportunities,” said Stars forward Sam Steel, who registered his third goal of the season on Sunday.
Robertson, who posted 41 goals in 2021-22 and 46 in 2022-23, fell to 29 last season and has just six this season. However, he has 10 goals in 21 games against Nashville, and the last one came during Dallas’ 4-3 road win in the season opener on Oct. 10.
The Stars’ Jake Oettinger made 33 saves in that contest. He’s also 10-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .929 save percentage at home this season. Backup Casey DeSmith has a 2.05 GAA while splitting his two home starts in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Predators star Juuse Saros owns a hefty 3.46 goals-against average during his current 0-4-3 starting rut.
Marchessault is third on the team with 15 points this season, but only three have come during 15 road games.
–Field Level Media
