Hague's Heavy Hands Can't Mask Nashville's Struggle to Close
A first-fight spark from Nic Hague provided a momentary lift, but the Predators remain unable to secure wins against the league's bottom tier.
In the eyes of head coach Andrew Brunette, defenseman Nic Hague provided a necessary jolt of energy during Thursday's matchup against the San Jose Sharks. According to reporting from Sports Illustrated, Hague engaged in Nashville's first fight of the season just under three minutes into the first period, landing a series of uppercuts against Zack Ostapchuk to shift the momentum.
**Opinion:** While Brunette credited Hague for giving the team a boost during a moment where they were losing momentum, these 'tone-setting' displays are beginning to feel like window dressing. Physicality is a flashing neon sign that Nashville is desperate for a spark, but it doesn't matter how hard you hit if you can't finish the job.
Despite the defensive effort—which Sports Illustrated notes included blocking 17 shots and limiting superstar Macklin Celebrini to three shots—the Predators still couldn't secure the victory. They managed to erase a two-goal deficit to force overtime, but ultimately suffered a 3-2 shootout loss.
Even with Hague playing what Brunette called his best game of the season, the result remains a failure to capitalize. Hague himself admitted to being disappointed, specifically citing that the team failed to find one more goal to support goaltender Juuse Saros. If Nashville cannot find a way to close out basement-dwellers like the Sharks, the physical engagement won't be enough to save a sinking ship.