As forwards Tommy Novak and Luke Evangelista take the ice for the first time in 2024 they’ll be skating on a line for the 26th time this season.
It’s been a consistent look of head coach Andrew Brunette’s this season having the duo stick together. Overall, he’s been looking for consistency with the younger skaters on the team – no exception to Novak and Evangelista who combine for 34 points so far this season.
However, in the last 10 games, the pair has a combined total of eight points with the lone goal going to Evangelista on Dec. 30 in Washington when he broke an 11-game goalless streak.
“We’ve gone through some good stretches and some stretches when we’re not doing much,” Novak said. “We’re just trying to find consistency in our game and [Evangelista] sees the ice well and so do I. There’s a few things we need to work on like get our battles percentages higher and get to the inside a little more and looking for shots and tips in screens.”
Lately, Novak feels like he and Evangelista have been good on the rush with some room to grow with the last few games not being as productive as others.
“We do put a lot of pressure on ourselves and want to be good, both of us want to be good players in this league and we’re pretty new in trying to prove ourselves,” Novak said. “We’re just trying to find that consistency of bringing it every night and being responsible in our own end and hopefully earn more ice time through that, that’s our goal right now.”
Brunette is trying something new for the second game in a row this season as the Chicago Blackhawks come to town. He’s added the final roommate Cole Smith to the line who has 15 points in 36 games this season.
Despite Evangelista moving out recently the trio doesn’t seem to mind being referenced by the “roommate line” right now.
“I thought they had great energy,” Brunette said of the Smith-Novak-Evangelista line. “I think Smith brought a puck-hound mentality, he and Novak have a little bit [of chemistry] living together, and they enjoy each other’s company. Luke is a real cerebral player and finds different pockets on the ice and they complement each other really well. We’re just looking for consistency, with our younger players it’s been up and down.”
Another key to the play of Novak lately has been getting back into the full swing of things still in game action. Since coming off of injured reserve on Dec. 7 Novak has just five assists in 12 games.
Novak said he’s not timid right now after coming back from injury. It’s been more about getting back to game speed since missing 11 games overall this season.
Tommy Novak looking for a pass at the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 21, 2023.
“I’m starting to feel a lot better. Missed a lot of time so just trying to pick it back up where I left off,” Novak said. “My legs are starting to come back and I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable out on the ice recently.”
Additionally, he added the experience he had jumping from the American Hockey League to Nashville last season has helped dramatically. Even the 27 games he played in Nashville during the 2021-22 season was something he benefitted from.
“I think the biggest difference is just the plays are made a little quicker,” Novak said. “Everyone is on the same page more, it’s more predictable. It goes the other way quickly so in the AHL there might be a second to scan and look but in this league, everyone knows what’s happening. At this level, you trust your teammates to make plays too.”
In terms of Brunette wanting to see his team manage games better, there were a few notable things in Novak’s mind that stood out when addressing what could change.
“You have to know the time and place in the game. When we’re doing well we’re getting a lot of puck behind their defensemen and making them turn a lot.” Novak said. “If we’re up in games it’s not time to pull up at the blue line and look for extra offense, just suffocate them the way we know how.”
Novak will continue to get more cracks at becoming a rounded NHL player with the Predators as the season wanes on. It continues as Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks take on Nashville for the third time this season on Tuesday night.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators
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