Expect a sense of urgency in the building when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.
While it’s just the fifth game of the season for both teams, they don’t want to risk falling too far in the standings at such an early stage.
Detroit’s lone victory came at the Predators’ expense, a 3-0 shutout on Oct. 12 in which Cam Talbot made 42 saves. Nashville is still seeking its first win.
The Red Wings are coming off back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers in which they were outscored by a combined 9-3. Talbot was pulled in the second period of a 5-2 loss Thursday night after allowing all of the Rangers’ goals.
New York scored three times on the power play, while Detroit failed to cash in on a 5-on-3 in the early going.
“Special teams tonight, 100 percent special teams,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “The outburst was obviously their power-play goals, which was three of them to extend the lead. The game got away from us on special teams.”
Detroit has given up 15 goals in its three losses.
“It’s only a couple of games, but we’re playing top teams every night,” defenseman Ben Chiarot said. “This is a team that’s been to the final four the last couple of years, so we’re playing stiff competition, which is good for us early in the season. It’s a good measuring stick and it shows us where we’ve got to get to. We have a lot of work to do.”
The offense needs to perk up as well. Patrick Kane has no goals and one assist. Lucas Raymond hasn’t scored yet after tallying 31 goals last season.
“Everything in the beginning of the season is magnified,” Lalonde said. “You’re going to go through these types of stretches, it just happens to be on the front end. We knew it would be a tough stretch. Just a little frustrating the way some of these have played out.”
The Predators have been outscored 18-8 in their 0-4 start.
“We’ve got to find a way,” defenseman Roman Josi said. “It’s hard right now. Every little thing matters. It’s just one of those times where we’ve got to dig in for every little play. We’ve just got to play a little harder. Everybody’s got a little more, and we’ve just got to dig in a little more to get that first win.”
All but one of Nashville’s losses have come at home. The Predators were defeated by Edmonton, 4-2, on Thursday.
Jonathan Marchessault scored his first goal since signing a five-year contract as a free agent but it wasn’t enough.
The good news is that most of the team is aware it can overcome a poor beginning. The Predators lost 10 of their first 15 games last season but still made the playoffs.
“Right now, I think we’re a little fragile group,” Marchessault said. “Like the beginning of the season is not going like we want. In the offseason, everybody says how good you guys are going to be and everything, and we maybe have to think that we’re a good team but not good enough. We’ve got to work harder than the opponent.”
