Jonathan Marchessault frustrated after Predators loss, Brunette sympathizes

Another season of disappointment is starting to frustrate Jonathan Marchessault.

After the Nashville Predators' loss on Nov. 22 — this time a 3-0 shutout to the Colorado Avalanche, the seventh loss in eight games — Marchessault's agony was noticeable.

"I feel like I'm personally working as hard as I can," he told reporters at Bridgestone Arena. "I feel like I create (chances), we just don't get the bounces that we're looking for."

Marchessault, who hasn't registered a point in eight games and hasn't scored since Nov. 1, had seven shot attempts in 18:19, according to Natural Stat Trick. With him on the ice, the Predators had 24 shot attempts and allowed only eight.

"It's been pretty much the same thing all year. We play decent games. It's hard for me to analyze the game, I don't know, I feel like tonight we played great, but we have zero goals," he said.

In 18 games this season, the forward has four goals and two assists, but most of those were scored in his first seven games. Although it's not just Marchessault struggling on offense — the Predators have the 31st-ranked offense, scoring just 2.4 goals per game — the lack of scoring is weighing on him especially.

"It's disappointing as a group, but especially for me individually," he said. "We played a great game, but again we find a way to not win a hockey game."

A 3-0 loss doesn't suggest it was a good performance from Nashville (6-11-4), but in this case, Marchessault is right. The Predators out-shot the Avalanche 35-26, won the shot-attempt margin 71-49 and the high danger attempt margin 16-9. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stole the game for Colorado (15-1-5), earning just his third win and first shutout of the season.

Predators coach Andrew Brunette expressed familiar frustration afterward. He believed the team played well, but just couldn't get their chances to go. He also had a simple message of encouragement for players like Marchessault.

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"Keep working," he said. "If you stop working, it's not going to come. So you just keep working. That's all you can do in these situations."

Brunette acknowledged he needs his top scorers to start scoring goals, but also recognized the effort Marchessault and others are putting in.

"Sometimes you think you're working and you're not working, but I believe he's really working," Brunette said. "It's not going easy for him. The only solution is to keep working, it will get there again. It goes back to that belief, you've just got to believe."

Next up, Nashville hosts the Florida Panthers on Nov. 24 (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. 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: Jonathan Marchessault frustrated after another Predators loss