Blues Host Predators In Central Division Match Up

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The Blues are back after a ten day layoff due to the NHL All-Star break, and we get to see a new face in the line up for the first time. Marcel Goc will play tonight, centering Steve Ott and Ryan Reaves on the Blues fourth line. He'll also likely see time on the penalty kill, in which he should become a regular member of the shorthanded units.

Martin Brodeur, fresh off his retirement announcement, will drop the puck tonight.

Brodeur was named a Senior Advisor to Doug Armstrong as well, the same title as Al MacInnis. Broduer will travel with the team, help the coaching staff, help Armstrong, and lend an ear and a possible idea to the players as well.

Tonight's projected line ups for each team;

With Pekka Rinne injured Nashville will be shorthanded, but with the play of the Filip Forsberg, Mike Ribeiro, and Shea Weber, this isn't going to be a cake walk. Both team are coming off of a long break, and it may take them a little longer to get their legs going.

The two guys who really have to be on their game tonight for the Blues? Brian Elliott and Vladimir Tarasenko. You want to win hockey games, those are the two guys you want be in a groove.

If this become a goaltending duel, the Blues will have the upper hand, as Brian Elliott certainly has the upper hand over Carter Hutton. However, there is that possibility that Hutton decided to play lights out.

With the long layoff, either team could take the upper hand early. If the Blues come out flying and the Predators come out flat, it could be a route. That said, if it happens the opposite way, Nashville, who's five points ahead of the Blues, could bump that number even higher.

Nashville holds a 3-1-0 record against the Blues this season, and this will be the last match up between the two during the regular season.

This has been a long ten days, lets get going boys.