As rough a season it’s been for Nashville, the Predators might currently be in a better overall mental state than the reeling New York Rangers.
The Predators can avoid a fourth straight home loss by handing the Rangers their third consecutive defeat Tuesday night.
Nashville entered play Monday tied for the fewest points (22) in the NHL. Despite being mired in a 1-6-3 rut, the Predators continue to find positive aspects of their collective game to carry forward with hopes of a turnaround.
On Saturday, Nashville fell into a 3-0 hole at Colorado, but third-period goals from Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista made things interesting before the Avalanche posted a pair of empty-net goals for a 5-2 final.
“In a year that it’s been tough to find some of those moral victories, with the way things (went Saturday, it’s) certainly one of those,” Stamkos, who has three points in three games, told the Predators’ website.
“And we’ve just got to build on that. It’s frustrating when you start to play the game the right way, the way that we want to, and you don’t necessarily see the results. That’s the old saying, ‘You just stick with it.'”
Perhaps a visit from the struggling Rangers will net a positive result for Nashville, which is mired in an 0-1-2 home rut.
The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner, New York started 12-4-1, totaling 61 goals, on the season. But, it’s scored just 31 times while losing 10 of 13 since.
The Rangers also fell behind 3-0 on Sunday at St. Louis, and clawed back with third-period goals from Brett Berard and Will Cuylle, but fell short in a 3-2 defeat that added to the club’s frustration.
“I don’t even know how to describe the feeling right now,” Rangers defenseman Adam Fox told the New York Post. “It’s definitely not good.
“We talk; we talk as a group and say to just try and be engaged. It definitely wears on you when you’re in kind of a streak like this.”
New York has totaled just seven goals in the last four games, three of which were decided by a single-goal margin. Leading point-producer Artemi Panarin (36 points) could miss a second straight contest with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, it’s uncertain if winger Kaapo Kakko, who has one point in his last six games, will be back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Sunday.
“We’ve just got to keep fighting, keep battling,” Cuylle, who has four goals and eight assists in 14 road games this season, told NHL.com.
After Jonathan Quick (2.47 goals-against average) made 21 saves at St. Louis, Igor Shesterkin (3.08 GAA) could be back in the New York net for this contest.
Nashville stalwart Juuse Saros has a 3.40 goals-against average during his current 0-5-3 starting stretch. Backup Justus Annunen, though, was stellar while making 35 saves during the Predators’ 4-1 victory at Dallas on Thursday.
It’s uncertain if injured Nashville star defenseman and captain Roman Josi (lower body) will miss a third consecutive game.
Stamkos has 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 42 career games versus New York.
The Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad has just one point in the last six road games.
–Field Level Media
