Predators head coach Andrew Brunette and the assistants on the bench are certainly the most visible members of the coaching staff, but there are other coaches and staff members working feverishly behind the scenes during games in support of the team on the ice and those coaches on the bench.
Lawrence Feloney has served as the Predators assistant coach-video for several years. He’s assisted by Andrew Meloche, the team’s video coordinator. During games, Feloney and Meloche watch in front of a number of screens, taking in the action while also analyzing a multitude of data points. But their most important job during the game is to advise whether or not to challenge a call.
When a questionable call happens, the coaching staff has a short window within which to advise the on-ice officials that they would like to challenge. That means Feloney, better known as “Law” around the Predators organization, and Meloche need to work quickly to make a recommendation to Brunette, who ultimately has the final say on whether or not to challenge a play.
Feloney and Meloche need to not only work quickly, but they also need to be right as well. An unsuccessful challenge in the NHL results in a delay of game minor penalty being assessed to the team.
Key to the comeback
In a recent game against the San Jose Sharks, Brunette showed just how much faith he has in the staff. After fighting back to tie the game 5-5 after falling behind by four goals, Predators defenseman Luke Schenn was whistled for a delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass.
After a quick consultation with the video crew, Brunette challenged the play, contending the puck hit the glass before going into the crowd. The play happened less than a minute after Roman Josi tied the game. Had the Predators lost the challenge, they would have been shorthanded two players for a full two minutes with the added minor penalty for an unsuccessful challenge.
“Law and Drew back there, they were adamant, I think they had a great angle,” Brunette said.
Forward Zach L’Heureux was on the ice at the time of the play and tapped his glove against the glass when it happened to indicate he saw the puck tip off the glass.
Even though the review took longer than the Predators would have hoped, the call was overturned on video review and play stayed 5-on-5. Minutes later, defenseman Nick Blankenburg scored the eventual game-winning goal to cap the largest comeback in Predators history.
“That was a big moment in the game,” Josi said. “Law and Andrew back there, they always do an amazing job. They are so good at what they do. They saved us there.”
Interestingly, that type of play would not have been subject to challenge a year ago, as a rule change for the 2024-25 season added the puck over glass penalty to those items that can be challenged.