Predators willing to get dirty to score more goals, end losing streak

What’s a hockey team to do when things get ugly? The answer for the Predators may be to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.

Nashville had scored just seven goals during a five-game losing streak going into Saturday night’s game against the New York Rangers at Bridgestone Arena.

Most recently, the Predators were shut out by Dallas in a game where they produced 49 shots on goal.

“There were times when I thought we could have been a little bit dirtier around the net,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

The solution, in part, could come from getting more sticks around the net. Nashville wants to maximize scoring opportunities by generating more chances to put back deflected and defended shots.

“Right now the goals don’t seem to be falling easy, so you just continue to put your foot on the gas in that area and look to generate better chances, more quality chances, if you can," Laviolette said.

Viktor Arvidsson, a top scorer who just returned from injured reserve after sitting out 21 games, wants to see the Predators be more aggressive around the goal. It’s as much a matter of technique as mindset.

“You have to go there to score, and we haven’t been there the last week or two,” he said. “We’ve got to be there in front of the net to pay the price to score a goal. I feel like we haven’t gotten there very good.

“You can’t score from the outside every time. You’ve got to be inside, inside position on your opposition, so I feel like that’s a big attitude question.”

Hockey players call those goals — the ones that come from scrappiness and hustle in tight quarters — greasy or dirty goals. And that persistence, in part, is what Nashville needs.

“I think for us right now we’re in a little bit of a slump goal scoring-wise, so maybe a dirty or greasy one might help that along the way,” Austin Watson said. “When you’re having trouble scoring goals I think it’s just shooting the puck as much as possible, getting it on the net and having guys at the net to create those second-chance opportunities.”

Reach Tommy Deas at 615-259-8328 and on Twitter @tommydeas.

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