After a week off the Nashville Predators are back in game action against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. A common sentiment expressed among Nashville’s skaters in the locker room is to make a push for the playoffs.
Entering tonight’s game Nashville is right below St. Louis in the Wild Card race. They play New Jersey and Dallas before making a trip to face the Blues one week from today.
“There’s so many teams in the mix but that’s what makes it so exciting,” head coach Andrew Brunette said. “You start scoreboard-watching a little more than before. It’s a fun time of year but it’s a hard time, let’s embrace the challenge here.”
Among those challenges has been on defense this season for the Predators.
Competition has been evident for ice time while also making an impression on Brunette during his first season at the helm. Defenseman Dante Fabbro has been making his case through the 41 games he’s played in this season.
“It’s kind of been that rollercoaster for me this year,” Fabbro said. “In games I have been in I’ve felt good. There are good and bad games but in this last stretch there’s no room for the bad games and we need everyone pulling the same rope.”
For Fabbro has the challenge for ice time been a hindrance to his mindset this season? So far Fabbro has been scratched 10 times, all of which have come even with him as a healthy player on the roster.
“If you’re in a position where you’re playing every night that’s great, that’s what the goal is,” Fabbro said. “In the coach’s eyes having guys fighting for spots is a good thing. Having a lot of defensemen that are able to play is a good thing. As a player, you get out there and try to earn your spot and earn your way onto being a regular.”
When Fabbro is in the lineup he’s mostly been alongside captain Roman Josi. He’s come a long way since making his debut in March of 2019. As a young veteran, there have been highs and lows that stand out to him in the 41 games he’s dressed in.
“I feel like my puck movement has been good this year,” Fabbro said. “A lot of us struggled at the start of last year but to piggyback off the last half I felt like I’ve done a pretty good job of doing that. The role and everything I’ve been in this year – being in and out of the lineup too – I try to be better every day and whenever I get the chance to play I play hard and we play for each other.”
Fabbro has noticed in his own game the area he’s slipped in is being physical against opposing players. As he looks ahead skating is an additional skill that he’d like to continue to work on when he is in the lineup.
Looking back at when Fabbro made his NHL debut he was tossed right into the lineup alongside Dan Humhuis. Nashville made the postseason and played Dallas but lost the series in six games.
Fabbro reflected on why that experience matters no matter what the expectation is of the team in any given season. He pointed to guys like Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn who have made it to the championship in the NHL.
“Understanding how important it is and how big games are down the stretch pointwise there’s a huge emphasis on our team to get up and start right,” Fabbro said. “Just having a mindset of every day is going to be a challenge and a playoff-style game.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators
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