How is the Nashville Predators' season going?

To borrow a phrase from beloved Bridgestone Arena locker room attendant Craig "Partner" Baugh:

"Not good, buddy. Unh-uh. Not good."

How not good? Let us count the ways.

• The Predators have blown two-goal leads in three of their past four games, including twice against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.

• They've lost four in a row, and six of their past seven.

• They're in last place in the Central Division.

• They're 5-10-0 and own the third-worst winning percentage in the league, ahead of only the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks. Two of the Predators' wins came against those two teams.

• They're on pace to finish 27-55-0, which would be the worst winning percentage (.329) in the 25 years of the team's existence.

• They have the third-worst penalty kill in the league at 70%.

Not to mention they're in the bottom third of the league in scoring. Same for goals allowed.

"We're in the mud right now," first-year coach Andrew Brunette said Tuesday after his team's latest loss. "It's a self-inflicted mud."

But why?

Is it all Juuse Saros' fault?

Two of the biggest problems that have led the Predators here: poor defense and struggling goalie Juuse Saros.

The first has a lot to do with the second.

Saros, an All-Star the past two seasons, is known for slow starts, and he has had some stinkers this season.

But this slow?

In 13 games, he has allowed at least four goals five times, including five and six in consecutive games. He has lost five starts in a row, and six of his past seven.

Hold on, though. He allowed at least four goals five times in his first 13 games last season and bounced back to finish fourth in Vezina Trophy voting.

Saros is 4-9-0 with an .892 save percentage and a 3.23 goals-against average this season.

At the same point last season, his slash was 6-6-1/ .906/3.23.

"I'm not concerned," Brunette said. "When there's a mistake, we're not helping 'Juice.'

"We're screening him. We're doing some uncharacteristic things."

But why?

What about Luke Schenn and Ryan McDonagh?

Brunette blames mental lapses, saying his players don't always understand where they are in the game.

Said his team is "doing some good things" and is "making progress."

Said the Predators often put themselves in positions to win.

"If we weren't doing that, I would feel really bad," Brunette said. "We have some young guys that have to learn a little bit.

"There are times in a game you have to understand, 'These are big plays, even though it feels like nothing.' Once we get that, I think we'll be OK."

The absence of injured veterans Luke Schenn and Ryan McDonagh hasn't helped, either.

Schenn hasn't played since the season opener, and McDonagh has missed the past five games and won't play the next who knows how many.

"They're veteran guys who have been in those situations all the time," Brunette said. "They know how to do it. They know how to calm the bench down. They understand how important some plays are at different times in the game."

Time to panic?

No, it's not all Saros' fault.

Yes, history suggests he'll turn his season around.

Schenn and McDonagh will come back, instantly improving the defense dramatically.

The penalty kill — well, it can't get much worse.

All of that should matter. That doesn't guarantee it will.

But don't go scrambling for the panic button just yet. Don't get visions of a top-three lottery pick dance in your head just yet.

There's still plenty of time for the Predators' play to fall in line with another of Baugh's favorite phrases:

"Great, buddy. Unh-uh. Great."

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators off to bad start; is the season already hopeless?