Opinion
3 min read

Can the Predators Claw Back Against the Senators at Bridgestone Arena?

As the Nashville Predators prepare to host the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from recent setbacks. The Predators have shown a mix of grit and vulnerability in their past few games, which sets up an intriguing contest against a Senators team looking to capitalize on any signs of weakness.


Jan 29, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) battles with Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) in overtime at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

In their last game on February 16 against the Dallas Stars, Nashville was overwhelmed in a 9-2 defeat. Despite putting up 29 shots and winning faceoffs at a rate of 56 percent, they were unable to convert opportunities into goals, with only a 7 percent shooting success rate. The defense also struggled significantly, allowing nine goals from just 41 shots.


However, it's not all doom and gloom for NSH fans. In an earlier game on February 11 against the Arizona Coyotes, Nashville emerged victorious with a thrilling overtime win scoring five points to four. They demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from each goal conceded and eventually securing victory through sheer determination and offensive prowess.


Jan 29, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) is checked by Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The upcoming clash with Ottawa presents an opportunity for NSH to harness that same fighting spirit shown against Arizona. One area where Nashville could dominate is powerplay situations; they scored two powerplay goals out of six opportunities in that game compared to zero out of two in their loss to Dallas.


The Senators will not make it easy though. They'll be looking for weaknesses in Nashville's armor – particularly after seeing how Dallas exploited them so effectively. It will be crucial for NSH's goaltending unit and defensive lines to step up if they want to prevent OTT from gaining momentum early on.


Jan 29, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) skates in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead at this matchup, one can't help but feel optimistic about NSH’s chances if they play with the same tenacity as seen during their overtime triumphs rather than succumbing under pressure as witnessed in their heavy loss.


Predators' fans should mark their calendars for February 27th when these two teams face off at Bridgestone Arena at 7:00 PM Central Time (CT). For those who cannot attend in person, you can catch all the action live on ESPN+ or BSSO channel number 646-1. This is set up as a classic encounter where resilience meets opportunity; let's see which side prevails!

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