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The Blues will be returning from their Christmas break tonight to host the Nashville Predators. The Blues headed into the break by beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1. While the team ended with a victory, fans shouldn’t read much into the game when considering future success.

Poor goaltending by Jacob Markstrom (the 2nd goal) and an empty net goal were the difference in the game. Given the closeness of the game from a team that had only won once in their last 8 games, Blues fans shouldn’t read too much into the victory. Tonight’s test will be a much better measuring stick.

The Predators have been struggling as well, losing their last 3 games and only earning 1 point in those contests with two of the losses being to teams around the playoff bubble. The Predators like the Blues, have been almost as strong on the road as at home, going 10-5-3. They rank 6th in goals per game, 8th in goals against per game, 8th on the penalty kill, and have the 2nd best power play. Interestingly, they give up the 6th most shots against per game.

One would assume that Pekka Rinne will get the start. Rinne has a 92.3% save percentage this year and a 2.50 goals against average with his only game against the Blues being a 34 save shutout. He has been strong against the Blues in his career, posting a 2.07 goals against average and a 92.8% save percentage.

Notorious Blues killer Filip Forsberg leads the Predators attack with 15 goals and 33 points in 35 games. Forsberg has 9 goals and 19 points in just 17 games against the Blues. Kyle Turris has 9 points in 15 games against the Blues while Ryan Johansen has 15 points in 21 games.

On defense, PK Subban leads the way as you would expect with 7 goals and 25 points in 35 games. Subban has 9 points in 13 games against the Blues. Ryan Ellis is still out with an injury.

The Predators projected lineup looks like this:

Forwards
Scott Hartnell - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala - Kyle Turris - Craig Smith
Filip Forsberg - Calle Jarnkrok - Pontus Aberg
Colton Sissons - Nick Bonino - Austin Watson

Defense
Roman Josi - Mattias Ekholm
Alexei Emelin - P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin - Yannick Weber

Goalie
Pekka Rinne

For the Blues, expect Jake Allen to get the start. Allen has a respectable 91.7% save percentage and a 2.65 goals against average versus the Predators.

Of the Blues who are expected in the lineup, Vladimir Tarasenko has enjoyed the most success against the Predators with 10 goals and 22 points in 25 games. The next most prolific Blues player isn’t coming close to 0.75 points per game.

I expect the Blues lines to start like this but they may very well end up in the blender:

Forwards
Patrik Berglund - Brayden Schenn - Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen – Paul Stastny – Tage Thompson
Vladimir Sobotka – Oskar Sundqvist – Magnus Paajarvi
Scottie Upshall – Kyle Brodziak – Dmitrij Jaskin

Defense
Joel Edmundson – Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson - Colton Parayko
Vince Dunn - Robert Bortuzzo

Goalie
Jake Allen

It’s a great day for hockey.

Fellow Hockeybuzz bloggers Nashville Predator's Paul McCann, Winnipeg Jet's Peter Tessier and Minnesota Wild's Dan Wallace have generously agreed to a friendly charity wager. We were hoping to do the whole division but don't have it fully represented yet. The blogger whose team finishes the highest the standings at the end of the year gets to pick a charity to whom the others will donate in their name.

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