Nashville Predators: 3 keys to victory in Game 2 against Dallas Stars
Nashville Predators will need to do these three things in Game 2 to improve upon their start to their series against the Dallas Stars.
The Nashville Predators dropped Game 1 of their best of 7 series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Though the Predators came out swinging in the first period, they teetered the rest of the game.
Here are the three keys to Game 2 that will lead the Predators into Dallas with the series tied up.
1. Special Teams Need to be Special
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The Predators had a game to forget Wednesday night in regards to special teams. They continued their abysmal power play from the regular season in Game 1. The Predators went 0-4 on the PP and only had a few good opportunities overall. They also allowed a power-play goal against by Dallas out of three times shorthanded.
We all knew this series was going to be tight between two of the best defensive teams in the league. In close games and a close series, the winners typically are the team with the better special teams play.
One of ESPN’s most recent Power Rankings for the Stanley Cup Playoffs listed each team’s fatal flaw. To no one’s surprise, the Nashville Predators fatal flaw is their power play. However, the Stars fatal flaw is their 2.55 goals scored per game.
The Predators dominate day the game at five-on-five on Wednesday. If they can do it again Saturday night, scoring a power play goal or two would definitely tip the game in their favor.
2. JoFA Needed More Of
All of the numbers point to the Predators’ “JoFA” line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson having played very strong hockey on Wednesday. They had possession, they took plenty of shots, had high danger opportunities, yet combined for zero points.
The Predators are predominantly a one-line offensive team. The JoFA line accounted for roughly one-third of the goals scored by the Predators in the regular season. They need the JoFA line to get back into the goal column in Game 2 if they are going to stand a chance in the series.
3. Traffic in Front of Bishop
The last key for Saturday night’s showdown is for the Predators to get in front of Stars goaltender Ben Bishop. Nashville had too many shots with no one providing a screen on Bishop. He is too good of a goalie not to have anyone taking away his eyes. That strategy works. Just look at the success Dallas had with men in front of the net.
They scored all three of their goals with traffic in front of Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne. Even Roman Josi’s scored a goal as a result of a screen right in front of Bishop. That is why he scored a goal that had a 2.6% chance at scoring based from where he shot and the shot quality according to Moneypuck.com. The Predators love taking those big slapped from the blue-line. They need screens so they don’t waste those opportunities.
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If the Nashville Predators can carry out these three keys on Saturday night, they will square up this series and look to steal one on the road as they head into Dallas.
For more 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, check out our Stanley Cup Playoffs page.