Turris, Predators on the rise since trade

NASHVILLE -- It would be hard to imagine a much better start with a team than the one forward Kyle Turris has had since he was traded to the Nashville Predators on Nov. 5.
Turris, who came to Nashville as part of the three-team trade that had Matt Duchene go from the Colorado Avalanche to the Ottawa Senators, has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 14 games since joining the Predators.

The Predators traded defenseman Samuel Girard, forward Vladislav Kamenev and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft to the Avalanche to acquire Turris.
Nashville is 10-2-2 since the Turris made his debut in a 5-4 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 11.
But it hasn't just been Turris who has been hot since the trade. His linemates, Kevin Fiala and Craig Smith, have benefited as well. They were put together for that game in Pittsburgh, and In 14 games have combined for 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists).
Turris said he knew Smith and Fiala would be a good fit for him stylistically but didn't know how good it would be until they started playing together.

"I knew a little bit about them," Turris said. "I knew they were obviously good players. [Smith] has been around the League for a while, and [Fiala] was a first-round draft pick. But playing with them now, you realize how good of players they are, how much speed they have and the skill level and how fast they play. It's a lot of fun."
Smith, who had five points (four goals, one assist) in 14 games before Turris arrived, has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) since they were placed on the same line. Fiala also has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) on a line with Turris after having six assists in the 14 previous games. Playing with Turris and Smith has opened room for Fiala to shoot the puck.
"It's nice to play with both [Turris and Smith]," Fiala said. "I played with [Smith] last year already, and it's just great to play with him. So much speed. He creates so much offense with the speed, just a dog on a bone. And Turris is so good all over. Great passes, he can score. Both are very good, so I feel great."
It was evident to the Predators the Turris line could be effective from their first game together. Smith and Turris combined for four points (two goals, two assists) and were generating scoring chances almost immediately.
"I think from the first game, I thought that we just had a lot of looks," Smith said. "When you get some chances early, and especially when you score in the first game you're with each other, it creates a little energy and excitement. But it also works because I think we have similar playing types. We like to play with speed and we like to look for little plays.
"All three of us can shoot the puck so it's just about getting to the net and doing little things. But I think we support each other really well. I think when you do that you're able to keep the puck with possession and create little breakdowns with our speed and getting away from somebody."

The Predators have had to rely on the Turris line even more during the past three games with top-line center Ryan Johansen day to day because of an upper-body injury.
Even though they have been productive, Turris, Smith and Fiala are learning each other's tendencies in different situations.
"We go out and we try to gain chemistry every day in practice and in games," Turris said. "The more we play together, the more we kind of figure each other out. We're just trying to create and help the team, work give-and-gos and use our speed."
Smith's 11 goals this season are one shy of his total in 78 games last season.
"I think he's been great in the [face-off] circle," Smith said of Turris. "He's been able to win a lot of draws, which makes it easy on us. When you have the puck more things are going to happen in your favor. But other than that, I think that with his speed and his ability to make plays, he's a terrific passer, we've got to get open and definitely hitting us on the tape."

Turris has seen his comfort level with the Predators grow with each practice or game. But he said he believes there are things with his understanding of the system, as well as chemistry with his linemates, that can be better.
"There's still little things, just the more reps you get, the more comfortable you get," he said. "So yeah, I'm a lot more comfortable now than I was the first few days or first few games, but I feel like I can still get more and more comfortable."