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Andrew Brunette at a loss after Predators fall to Stars, calls it 'unexplainable'
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- Andrew Brunette at a loss after Predators fall to Stars, calls it 'unexplainable'
Andrew Brunette can't explain the Nashville Predators' latest defeat.
Losing 5-4 to the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 8 was a departure from the other failures this season. Goal scoring, for once, wasn't an issue − Nashville scored four goals for just the sixth time this season.
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Instead, defensive lapses, penalties, and mental errors at crucial moments plagued Nashville (5-8-4, 14 points), leading to a fourth straight loss and frustration from the coach.
"We talked about it at length about the mental fortitude and the mistakes at the wrong time," Brunette said. "It's unexplainable, really."
In the first period, Mavrik Bourque was left alone for an easy first goal for Dallas. Then, 13 seconds into the second, Roope Hintz burst down the middle of the ice untouched to give the Stars a 2-1 lead. The third period, after the Predators fought back for a 4-3 lead, saw the Stars score twice in 47 seconds for the final margin and the win.
The lack of focus in crucial moments − right after a goal, to start a period, to begin a penalty kill − showcased a new, nightmarish way to lose a game for the Predators.
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"You talk about it. You think we're getting better at it," Brunette said. "That mental fortitude. Understanding the game, the big mistakes at costly times. That's kind of where we're at."
Technically where the Predators are at is seventh place in the Central Division. That should feel familiar because it's exactly where Nashville finished last season.
Through 17 games, the Predators have five wins, same as last season. Goal scoring has not improved − 2.53 goals per game this season, down slightly from 2.59 last season. At times they look better defensively, but then losses like against Dallas betray any faith in the system.
Steven Stamkos , who scored for just the third time this season for the Predators, saw the result as a continuation of the team's frustrations this season.
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"There's games that we play well defensively and can't seem to get that extra goal to put us over the hump," he said. "Then tonight, we score four and give up five."
Stamkos has just four points in 17 games, but goals in two of his last three games gives hope that maybe he's turned a corner.
"We're in every game. When we're losing, we aren't getting blown out. It's all one-goal games with empty netters here and there. We've got to find a way to get over that hump. It's not going to be easy, but there's still a lot of hockey here," he said.
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Next up, the Predators visit the New York Rangers on Nov. 10 (6 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network) before heading to Sweden as part of the NHL's Global Series. They will play two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1 . Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds .
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Andrew Brunette at a loss after Nashville Predators fall to Dallas Stars
