After dropping back-to-back home games this week the Nashville Predators are going out on the road for five games.
On Thursday night the Predators saw their worst performance in franchise history at home losing 9-2 at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Head coach Andrew Brunette discussed how not understanding and not being sharp mentally cost his team big this week.
“I think not understanding or getting their mind around what’s important, that’s hockey it’s not everything else that goes around hockey it’s the game of hockey and I don’t know if we’re understanding the importance that our mind has to be in the game and it can’t be in our vacations,” Brunette stated.
Before leaving for St. Louis Brunette revisited what he meant by expressing his frustration the way he did on Thursday night after the game.
“Our minds haven’t been right since the break,” Brunette said. “It’s not been us the last three games. We’re a team that’s competed every night and competed as hard as possible, we don’t always get the results but we brought that every night.”
Brunette sensed his team slipping right when they got back from break and then it escalated into practice earlier in the week not being good. While there’s tomorrow to always look forward to the Predators have a season-defining road trip starting against the Blues.
The blowout loss was addressed on Friday morning, and while the standards weren’t met during the week now is the time to attack and get back to how this team has approached games all season.
“Everyone in this room has been in situations like this one in their career at some point,” defenseman Luke Schenn said after Friday’s practice. “The ability to persevere and respond is what gets you to this level – what keeps you at this level – I’ve had my fair share of them and we have another chance tomorrow.”
While coming off of two losses isn’t great the Predators did announce a two-year $1.8 million extension for forward Michael McCarron. Brunette said he’s been like a bigger brother to guys in the locker room and will stand up fo
r anyone.
“I’ve come a long way, they traded for me a long time ago,” McCarron said. “Luckily I was able to find a spot with the big club and stick around. I think it’s a huge opportunity for me, I’ve really started to find my NHL game and feel comfortable in my own skin.”
McCarron has come a long way since he was in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program last season before coming back to Nashville. He also got married over the offseason before playing this year and now he’s an established player in the eyes of the Predators.
“Everyone has bumps in the road and I have a great support system, great family, and great wife, and a great organization that had my back the whole way,” McCarron said. “I like to be a good teammate and have fun. I like to bring good energy to this group and continue that. I think I have another step to get better here and it’s only the beginning of myself being good in my skin on the ice.”
Stay tuned for coverage from St. Louis
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