Nashville Predators season hits new low with worst defensive performance of season
For a team that's been out of the playoff race since January, that's difficult to do.
The Predators (27-40-8, 62 points) allowed a season-high for goals, while allowing the Blue Jackets to skate unimpeded in their own zone for 60 minutes. Kirill Marchenko's hat trick complemented two-goal performances each from Adam Fantili and Sean Monahan as the Blue Jackets had no problem maneuvering through the Predators' defense.
Columbus fired 37 shots on net, though most of those were made in the first two periods − the Blue Jackets let off the gas somewhat after Kirill Marchenko completed his hat trick in the third period.
One of the reasons for the defensive meltdown? Another poor performance from goaltender Juuse Saros.
Saros, who earned his league leading 29th loss, made 19 saves on 26 shots for a .731 save percentage. That's down from his season save percentage of .898 and a career average of .915.
At least three of the goals on Tuesday were ones Saros should have stopped. Monahan's first goal to make it 3-0 was caused by Saros inadvertently knocking the puck into his own net. Monahan's second goal was a product of Saros overplaying the angle, allowing Monahan to tuck the puck neatly in behind him for the score. Another goal, scored by former Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro, was shot through a screen, but wasn't a difficult shot for most goalies to stop.
The defensive issues were not all on Saros. At least three goals were directly related to turnovers by the defense and complete lapses in coverage. But according to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets generated 3.72 expected goals in the game, yet they scored eight. That's almost always an indictment of goaltending.
If anything, the loss helps the Predators' chances at a high pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
LOTTERY PICK: How loss to Flyers helps Nashville Predators' odds in 2025 NHL Draft lottery
But the trend of poor defense and disappointing goaltending from Saros continues.
Next up, Nashville plays at the Dallas Stars on Thursday (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators' season hits new low with worst defensive result of season
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
One Of Cam Atkinson's Team Records Is In Kirill Marchenko's Sights
Former CBJ legend Cam Atkinson is at the top of many stat categories for the Jackets. After all, he did play 627 games before the trade to Philadelphia. Atkinson is currently the owner of two records for the Blue Jackets: Short-Handed Goals(16) and Hat Tricks(6). Of these two, only one is on the verge of being broken, and that's Hat Tricks. Atkinson's six hat tricks are one ahead of retired legend Rick Nash, and three above the next player. That player is Kirill Marchenko, who, in just two seasons, is already third on the career hat trick list. That's either an indictment of the Blue Jackets and their inability to score goals for the last 25 years, or an indication that Kirill Marchenko is going to be a menace for many years to come. It's probably both to be honest. Kirill Marchenko has a chance to catch Cam Atkinson this upcoming season if he can put together a fourth season straight of excellent play, specifically goal scoring. In his first three years, he's scored 75 goals and totaled 141 points. Three hat tricks in a season are not out of the realm of possibility for young Marchenko. If he keeps shooting the puck, he could score 40 next year, but that all depends on whether he can step up his production on the power play. He only scored two, yes, two power-play goals last season, and that has to change. Kirill Marchenko, after just three-plus seasons, could force his way to the top of the CBJ record books, and we're here for it. He could also move into the top-8 in all-time goals as well, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Kirill Marchenko is on his way to becoming an all-time Jacket. Let us know what you think below. Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. More From THN Columbus Blue Jackets' Biggest Trade Chips: Dmitri Voronkov The Columbus Blue Jackets have a few big decisions to make in the next handful of months. First, Yegor Chinakhov and his public trade request will need to be dealt with. Secondly, and potentially most importantly, there was talk just hours before the 2025 NHL Draft that the organization was looking to trade Dmitri Voronkov in an attempt to land Noah Dobson. James van Riemsdyk Has High Praise For Zach Werenski James van Riemsdyk appeared on Daily Faceoff's Morning Cuppa Hockey with Jonny Lazarus & Colby Cohen today, and had some very flattering things to say about superstar defenseman Zach Werenski. How Far Will The Columbus Blue Jackets Travel In The 2025-26 Season? Every NHL team travels, it's just what needs to happen when you play every team in the league. But with teams all over North America, some teams travel more than others.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Yahoo
Nashville Predators' Spencer Stastney reveals lifelong battle with anxiety, depression
Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney, who missed much of the 2024-25 season while dealing with personal issues, revealed more details about what kept him away from hockey. Speaking to Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on "32 Thoughts: The Podcast," Stastney revealed a lifelong battle with anxiety and depression that had him on the verge of retirement in 2024. "I was thinking that I'm done. That I'm absolutely done with hockey," Stastney said. In September 2024, two months after Stastney was awarded a two-year contract at arbitration, the Predators, announced he would miss training camp and no timetable was given for his return. In the podcast interview on Aug. 3, Stastney explained his struggles began much earlier than that, going back to his days as a youth hockey player in the Milwaukee area. It was at the end of the Milwaukee Admirals' deep run in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2024 when Stastney realized he needed to step away from hockey. After talking with his agent, Pete Rutili, he had his retirement papers all drawn up, convinced that he couldn't play anymore. "I thought it was going to be a sigh of relief, that I was going to get up in the morning and feel great. I was going to apply for jobs, like I'm a new person. I'm free finally. And I was still miserable," Stastney said. Spencer Stastney details family history, therapy work in NHLPA's assistance program After finally meeting with a therapist through the NHLPA's player assistance program, Stastney made realizations about his family history that were contributing to his anxiety and depression. As a promising young hockey player in the Milwaukee area, Stastney's family split up to allow his career to blossom. While his father and sister stayed in Milwaukee, he moved with his mother and brother to the Chicago area, before eventually leaving for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth Michigan, when he was 16. His parents' eventual divorce, combined with other family dynamics, all added stress to his life and exacerbated his anxiety. "Knowing that everyone was having a tough time while I was having a blast with friends and living my best life, that guilt really weighed upon me and added up to a lot of things that I came to realize in therapy," Stastney explained. "Pretty much everything went south in my family after the Chicago move." The weight of that guilt made hockey miserable for Stastney. "I didn't take care of myself," he said. "Slowly things started to deteriorate. I wasn't doing anything outside of the rink. I'd go to the rink, I'd come home, I'd sit on my coach, like what do I do now?" After many lengthy therapy sessions last year, Stastney finally felt excited about returning to hockey in November − crediting his therapist and Predators' development coach Mark Borowiecki as key resources in that journey. On Nov. 27, Stastney was added to the Admirals roster and made his AHL season debut on Dec. 7. Following injuries to Adam Wilsby and Jeremy Lauzon, the Predators recalled Stastney on Jan. 2, where he played 23 games to close out the 2024-25 season. HOT START: Why Nashville Predators must begin 2025-26 season on a hot streak, and what might help Stastney admits there is still more work to be done along with his future as a hockey player. 'I'm still trying to figure out my relationship with hockey," said Stastney. Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@ Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators' Spencer Stastney reveals struggles with anxiety, depression
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Yahoo
Report: Ex-Devils First-Rounder Lands Coaching Gig
According to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, former New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Matteau is being hired as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.
