If the Nashville Predators are to avoid setting a franchise record for most consecutive losses, they’ll have to do it without their undisputed leader.
Due to an 0-5-1 road skid, the Predators will be without captain Roman Josi for Thursday’s game against the host Dallas Stars.
The Stars are looking for their fifth straight home win while snapping the Predators’ ninth straight loss on Thursday night.
Nashville’s swoon tied them with Chicago for the NHL-lowest number of points at 20. The Predators, who also have a league-worst seven wins, have totaled just 14 goals during an 0-5-3 slide. Their last win came on Nov. 23 when they visited Winnipeg.
“It’s a tough league,” forward Jonathan Marchessault said. He scored two goals in Tuesday’s 4-3 home loss to Calgary, increasing his season goal total to seven.
“What I realized over time is that it never gets easy, so individually and as a team we have to embrace the challenges and embrace the adversity we face.
“And I think that will help you come out on top and do (better).”
That likely won’t be easy for the Predators without Josi, who suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Tuesday’s game. He did not play in Thursday’s game and is listed as available for that day.
Nashville will be without Ryan O’Reilly, the star forward returning after missing three games with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon is also scheduled to return after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. Forward Gustav Nyquist is day-to-day after being sidelined with an illness on Tuesday.
“Obviously, you can never replace Roman Josi,” Nashville manager Andrew Brunette said. “But I think it gives us an opportunity to…organically, look at them and what they have in more time.”
The Predators head to Dallas, where the Stars are 11-2-0 and have won four straight at home, outscoring their opponents 19-8. Defenseman Thomas Hurley scored two of Dallas’ four goals in the third period, and Jason Robertson finished with an assisted goal in Sunday’s 6-2 win over Calgary, leading to the home 6. The series of battles began.
“Every game is important,” said Hurley, who doubled his goal tally. “I look forward to coming back.”
Dallas had been held to two goals in each of its previous three games, but got the win on Sunday.
“It starts with doing the right things and taking advantage of opportunities,” said Stars forward Sam Steele, who scored his third goal of the season on Sunday.
Robertson scored 41 goals in 2021-22 and 46 goals in 2022-23, but that dropped to 29 last season and just six this season. However, he has 10 goals in 21 games against Nashville, his last goal coming in Dallas’ 4-3 road win on Oct. 10 in the season opener.
The Stars’ Jake Oettinger made 33 saves in the game. Also, this season, he has 10 wins, 1 loss, and 0 losses at home, with a goals against average of 1.99 and a save percentage of .929. Backup Casey DeSmith posted a 2.05 GAA while splitting two home starts in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Predators star Juice Saros is currently an 0-4-3 starter with a high scoring average of 3.46 goals against.
Marchessault ranks third on the team with 15 points this season, but has won just three of 15 road games.
–Field level media
