Predators' Ryan O'Reilly rips into his own character publicly calling himself pathetic

Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly didn't mince words when assessing his performance following the team's 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. Known for holding himself accountable, the veteran forward admitted he struggled on the ice, showing his usual drive to improve even after a tough game.

O'Reilly skated 15 minutes and 22 seconds of ice time in the contest and finished with a minus-2 rating.

He also only mustered one shot on goal, blocked a shot, and even dropped the gloves in a fight, showing his willingness to get involved in all aspects of play. His line, with Gustav Nyquist and Filip Forsberg, controlled a decent 52.38% of the shot attempts. They were lacking quality scoring chances, however, managing just 42.67% of expected goals per the stats site Natural Stat Trick.

As a team, the Predators couldn't muster much offensive pressure, finishing the game with only 16 shots and a paltry three in the final period. The poor performance continued Nashville's third loss in their last four games, dropped their record to 4-7-1, and made everything all the more frustrating for players and fans looking for a far better start to the season. O'Reilly is optimistic, though, speaking about the team's upcoming road trip. He sees it as an opportunity for the team to recreate, refocus, and hopefully find some consistency. More often than not, road trips become bonding experiences that offer a chance to break out of routines and sometimes create a spark in turning things around.

The Predators have seen road trips work in their favor before. Last season, the team responded when management canceled a planned outing at the Sphere in Las Vegas after a disappointing performance, something that appeared to light a fire under the group. Nashville responded by going 18 games without a regulation loss, showing what a little change of scenery can do sometimes for sure. With equal determination and a new mindset, the Predators will try to emulate that resiliency on their next adventure.