Consistency and Compete are two things the Ottawa Senators will be looking for as they play their second home game of the season.
Consistency not only from game to game, but from shift to shift has been something that has lacked greatly in the first handful of games, and the results show that.
Shots on goal is one thing, they have been outshot in every game this season, ranging from 4 to 15, and by double digits in 3 of their 5 games.
By continuing to rely so much on Craig Anderson, who has a habit of getting worn down and succumbing to a variety of injuries, they are playing with fire.
Erik Karlsson is the model for the requirement of consistency. Yes, the captain leads the team and the league with 7 assists, but has points in just 2 of 5 games. In the Senators' 3 wins he has 7 points and is a +5, while in their 2 losses he is pointless with a -5 rating.
As for compete, that is the big thing that was stressed by Dave Cameron in their off-ice meetings yesterday. That includes everyone on the team, because there have been too many passengers on too many shifts that have resulted in too many quality scoring chances against. Whether it is a pinch at the wrong time and failing to hustle back, or not getting the puck deep before a line change, the effort and attention to detail has to be better.
Clarke MacArthur will continue to sit, and the fact that he has sustained his second concussion in less than a month, and third since February has to be a concern. Shane Prince will be back in the lineup in his spot once again and could see more prime minutes as he finished Thursday's game skating on the second line to try and get them going after Alex Chiasson looked lost in the role.
The Predators come in after suffering their first loss of the season on Thursday night, 4-3 to the New York Islanders. Nashville is among the stingiest teams when it comes to allowing scoring chances and shots, so the Senators will have to make the most of their opportunities and hit the net with their attempts. They are getting it done defensively, allowing just 6 goals in 4 games, with 4 of them coming on Thursday to the Isles.
One thing to watch for tonight is the condition of the ice as Canadian Tire Centre, which has been covered pretty much all week with the Raptors/T-Wolves game on Wednesday, Nitro Circus on Thursday and Kevin Hart on Friday night. Whenever it is covered for that long, there are sometimes some interesting and frustrating consequences.