Andrew Brunette on Michael McCarron: 'He Carried the Team'

The Nashville Predators needed their big players to step up in a tough game against a hot Philadelphia Flyers team last night, and while Juuse Saros, Filip Forsberg, and Gus Nyquist each had standout performances, it was Michael McCarron and the fourth line that got plenty of credit from head coach Andrew Brunette after the win. 

"He carried the team," Brunette said of McCarron. "Without that line and without Michael we don't win the game. Simple as that." 

McCarron's goal came at 3:05 in the second period on a delayed penalty. The Predators added the extra attacker, and McCarron cleaned up Luke Schenn's blocked shot to give Nashville a 2-0 lead. McCarron, Juuso Pärssinen, and Cole Smith were game changers for the Predators tonight on their shifts. 

"I think we were all over pucks. We were hunting pucks, McCarron said after the game. "As a line I think we were heavy over pucks, momentum changing type shifts that fourth lines need to do."

McCarron may seem an unlikely hero just looking at the stats sheet. Tonight was his fourth goal of the season and he has been a healthy scratch for ten games this season, but when McCarron is on the ice and in the locker room, he is making a difference. McCarron is a player who is going to come out of a puck battle along the boards with a puck, challenge a zone exit, stand up for a teammate, kills penalties, and brings the energy.