After a brief three-game winning streak, the Nashville Predators I lost twice in a row, falling 5-1 against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena after losing in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday.

Whatever the momentum of Predators that we could have found with last week’s victories against the Bruins, Blackhawks and Blue Jackets quickly evaporated.

The Predators are now 3-6-1 to start the season, the most losses they have accumulated in October since the 2009-10 season.

“It’s a little concerning to say the least,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said after the loss. “There have been times where it feels like we’re getting closer, and then there are times like tonight where it doesn’t even seem like we’re close.”

Nashville’s next game is Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).

While the Predators have multiple issues – lack of offensive production, defensive breakdowns, power play inconsistency – a major weakness is starting to emerge.

What Andrew Brunette said about the Predators’ struggling fourth line

The fourth line of forwards, centered by Michael McCarron, was a big part of the Predators’ identity last season. It was a deadly unit with Cole Smith and Kiefer Sherwood excelling at preventing goals, while still managing to score a few. According to Natural Stats Tipin 54 games together, they were on the ice for 12 goals scored and seven goals allowed, a goal differential of plus-5.

This season is a different story.

In 10 games, McCarron and Smith were on the ice for two goals scored and eight allowed, a goal differential of minus-6. Since Sherwood is now with the Vancouver Canucks, rookie Zachary L’Heureux has taken his place, even though he has only played in five games so far.

“They kind of lost their game right now,” coach Andrew Brunette said of that unit.

In Thursday’s loss to Edmonton, McCarron’s struggles were on display. In the first period, McCarron was unable to clear the puck on the right wall, allowing the Oilers to extend zone time and leading to a goal by Corey Perry. Then, in the second period, McCarron fell at the blue line trying to recover a puck, accidentally throwing it to Leon Draisaitl, who gave the Oilers a 3-1 lead.

After Draisaitl’s score, McCarron didn’t make another change in the game. He finished with a minimum of 6:23 minutes played and did not record a shot on goal.

Brunette suggested that after the game he may have to reconsider line combinations, including that of the fourth line.

“It’s our job to try to reset them a little bit, figure some things out,” Brunette said. “Nothing is really working anywhere. So blaming (the fourth line) isn’t even fair.”

Replacement options for Brunette are limited. Philip Tomasino has been healthy in five straight games. Juuso Parssinen had also been scratched recently. One Milwaukee possibility is forward Vinnie Hinostroza, who has four goals and seven assists in seven games for the Admirals.

But realistically, Brunette needs to find a way to make his team play better overall, not just find a player to replace McCarron on the fourth line.

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“Everyone is disconnected,” Brunette said. “There hasn’t been a lot of synergy with the group yet.”

Alex Daugherty is the Predators writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators-exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article was originally published on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators flaw revealed in Oilers rout