Going into the season opener the Predators knew they had some stiff competition. Team Ice was coming off a disappointing Semi Finals lose and was hungry to get back to their winning ways. Team Ice capitalized on Predator turnovers and played crisp, organized offense en route to a 40-7 victory. Defensively, the Predators did not show their usually hard nose, bend don't break defense. Team Ice took advantage of extra time and gaping holes in the Predators zone defense. Team Ice converted on big play opportunities and they were too overwhelming for the Predators. Offensively, the Predators moved the ball relatively effectively, but with three turnovers and two turnover on downs, the Predators couldn't do enough to keep it close.
In the first half the Predators did a better job than in the past completing passes, but struggled on first downs completing passes, which ended up forcing them into third and long situations, which they could not convert. #1 Clark, #8 Wagner(Wagar), #11 Brown and #45 Price all caught multiple receptions in the game, but the Predators couldn't put together multiple solid plays in row to complete an overall successful drive in the first half. Defensively, the Predators had trouble containing Team Ice's offense. Along with two costly turnovers, which led to scores, the Predators faced a 0-13 deficit late in the first half. The Predators did stop Team Ice on downs as time expired at the end of the first half to give them hope at half time for a possible comeback.
In the second half the Predators played better on offense. Moving the ball into to scoring position. #7 Brown found #45 Price for a touchdown on the right side and #11 Brown converted the point after. But the Predators squandered two other possessions in scoring position, which led to Team Ice touchdowns. Defensively in the second half the Predators continued to struggle stopping Team Ice's offense. They tried to make plays to get back into the game and ultimately led to Team Ice scores. Team Ice scored one more touchdown as time ran down and the final score resulted as a 7-40 lose.
Although the score was ugly, the Predators did many things to build on. The offense moved the ball and a few times put them in scoring position. But turnovers once again was the Predators achillies heel. The defense did not play to their potential, but history shows the Predators will get that corrected. The Predators also had two key players out and lost another, #52 Oberhaus, early in the game which affected the final score.
The season is young and the Predators will come back to fight another day. Next week it doesn't get any easier as they play the three time defending champion Gunners. They have the best quarterback, best specialists, best defense and will truly be a measuring stick for the rest of the season. Only time will tell how the Predators respond to a humbling week 1.
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