Predators: Which players ace their quarter-season report card?

By blanking the Western Conference-leading St. Louis Blues on Friday, the Predators have started the season's second quarter in stellar fashion.

Nashville has won four in a row and owns a 9-2-0 record in November, the NHL's best before Saturday's games. Although the Predators passed the 20-game mark Wednesday, it isn't too late to evaluate where certain players are.

Here is how they grade through 20-plus games:

Excellent

Filip Forsberg: Nashville's clear first-quarter MVP is challenging for the best individual season in franchise history. Forsberg, with 11 goals and 24 points in 22 games, is on pace to become the Predators' first 40-goal scorer and single-season points leader. Paul Kariya, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier this month, had 85 points during the 2005-06 season.

More: Predators blank Blues, improve to 9-2 in November

Predators' top three defensemen: Instead of singling out the team's top defensemen, let's collectively praise them. Roman Josi, P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm each have been sensational, handling heavy minutes with aplomb and combining for 45 points. When Ryan Ellis returns from offseason knee surgery in the coming weeks, this group will strengthen even more.

Above Average

Pekka Rinne: On Friday, Rinne recorded his 45th career shutout, the most among Finnish-born goaltenders in NHL history. He hasn't been statistically spectacular this month with a 2.66 goals-against average and .916 save percentage, but the eye test shows otherwise. Rinne regularly has made crucial saves to preserve Nashville's streak.

Ryan Johansen: The team's top center has eight points in his past five games, which most importantly include his first three goals this season. Johansen, Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson have outscored opponents 11-5 as a line this season during five-on-five play, according to corsica.hockey.

Viktor Arvidsson: We finally have found a weakness of Arvidsson's — scoring on empty nets. Seven of the forward's eight goals have come at even strength, which leads the team.

Craig Smith: Smith has seven goals in 22 games, five fewer than he had in 78 last season. He's on pace for a career-high 26 goals.

Satisfactory

Kevin Fiala: Fiala's connection with center Kyle Turris, who has been a welcome addition to the Predators' roster, has influenced the 21-year-old's emergence from a slow start. Fiala has six points in seven games since Turris debuted for the Predators, and their line with Smith has been dynamic.

Incomplete/Below Average

Nick Bonino: The Predators still are getting to know Bonino, who recently returned from a month-long absence because of injury, in relation to how he fits in their lineup. Turris' arrival three weeks ago places Bonino in a bottom-six center role, which ideally is where he belongs.

Pontus Aberg: A frequent healthy scratch during the season's first month, Aberg hasn't scored in 12 games this season. He had four goals in as many games during a recent conditioning stint in the minors, so he'll have to show that he can translate that production to the NHL.

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

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