2016–17 Nashville Predators | |
---|---|
Division | TBD Central |
Conference | TBD Western |
2016–17 record | 32–23–9 |
Home record | 19–7–7 |
Road record | 13–16–2 |
Goals for | 189 |
Goals against | 179 |
Team information | |
General Manager | David Poile |
Coach | Peter Laviolette |
Captain | Mike Fisher |
Alternate captains |
Roman Josi James Neal |
Arena | Bridgestone Arena |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Filip Forsberg (26) |
Assists | Ryan Johansen (39) |
Points | Filip Forsberg Ryan Johansen (49) |
Penalties in minutes | Austin Watson (82) |
Plus/minus | Austin Watson (+14) |
Wins | Pekka Rinne (25) |
Goals against average | Juuse Saros (2.21) |
The 2016–17 Nashville Predators season is the 19th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.
The Predators opened their season on October 14 with three power play goals in a 3–2 victory over the Blackhawks. Newly acquired defenseman P. K. Subban scored the first goal for the Predators in his debut for the team. The next night on the road, the Predators fell in a three-goal hole after 10 minutes into the first period and scored three to pull within one in the third period, but a hat trick goal by Richard Pánik with 91 seconds remaining secured a 5–3 victory for the Blackhawks.
Back home in Nashville on October 18, the Predators tied the game in the second period with a power play goal from captain Mike Fisher. But it wasn't enough to overcome goals from Adam Cracknell and Jason Spezza, and the Predators fell 2–1 to the Stars. On October 21, the Predators traveled to Detroit and Subban, Mike Ribeiro and Fisher scored to extend the Predators NHL-leading eight power play goals to that date. With 22 seconds remaining, however, Darren Helm scored an empty net goal to secure a 5–3 victory for the Red Wings and hand the Predators their third straight loss. They returned home the next day to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins despite multiple illnesses, involving starting goaltender Pekka Rinne and captain Mike Fisher – Juuse Saros made his first start of the season.
In the first of a five-game road trip on October 26, the Predators – suffering a second period collapse of surrendering five goals, including two shorthanded goals for only the fourth time in franchise history – fell 6–1 to the Ducks. The next night at the Staples Center, the Predators scored on a shorthanded goal by Viktor Arvidsson one minute into the third period to jump to a 2–1 lead.Tyler Toffoli of the Kings responded 41 seconds later to tie the game, however, send it into overtime where Jeff Carter shot past Rinne with 29 seconds remaining in overtime and the Predators fell 3–2. The Predators capped their month of play on October 29 with a 4–1 loss to the Sharks.