Follow @stlgoalie The Blues will look to avenge their November 10th loss when they take on the Nashville Predators at 7pm tonight. They will also be looking to sweep their three game home stand and bring their record to 6-0-2 in their last 8 home games. The game is the last in the Predators’ three game road trip. On the trip, they split the first two games.
James Neal has been on fire for the Predators, scoring in six consecutive games. He has eight goals and 3 assists in his last 9 games. His hot streak has helped the Predators start to turn the season around, going 5-2-3 in their last 10 games after starting 2-4-0. Pekka Rinne has been strong for the Predators this season, posing a 93.3% save percentage. Backup Marek Mazanec on the other hand has struggled, posting a 80.9% save percentage.
The Blues and Predators have had similar power play success this season with the Blues having the slight edge (0.2% better) though the Blues hold a substantial penalty kill advantage (9% more). The Predators hold a slight advantage in goals against per game (0.09) and a more significant advantage in goals for per game (0.44) but the Blues hold a substantial advantage in points earned percentage (5.2%).
The Blues need to win tonight to try and keep pace with the Blackhawks who have been on fire in their last 10, going 8-1-1. The Blackhawks sit 5 points ahead of the Blues before tonight’s games.
The Blues have a number of players who have been producing points lately. Vladimir Tarasenko has 2 goals and 7 assists in his last 7 games. Jaden Schwartz has 5 goals and 1 assist in his last 6 games. Kevin Shattenkirk has 1 goal and 8 points in his last 7 games. Robby Fabbri has 4 goals and 1 assist in his last 5 games. David Perron has 2 goals and 4 assists in his last 6 games.
Tonight, Alexander Steen is still out. Robert Bortuzzo and Ty Rattie will replace Peteri Lindbohm and Nail Yakupov. As to the lines, I expect them to look like this for the most part: Schwartz – Stastny – Jaskin/Perron Fabbri - Lehtera - Tarasenko Jaskin/Perron – Berglund – Rattie Upshall - Brodziak - Reaves Bouwmeester – Pietrangelo Gunnarsson – Shattenkirk Parayko - Bortuzzo Allen
The Blues made a minor trade today, acquiring defenseman Reid McNeill for Danny Kristo. McNeill will report to the Chicago Wolves.
Jammer’s 9 NHL Nuggets 1) The Devils and Canadiens have yet to lose in regulation at Home. 2) Speaking of home ice, think it doesn’t matter in the NHL. Wrong. Only 1 team in the West (Blackhawks) and 5 teams in the East (Bruins, Senators, Lightning, Capitals and Rangers) have more road wins than losses. 3) The Oilers free fall continues losing 5 in a row and 8 of their last 10. 4) Tough to make up points in the Metropolitan Division as five teams have earned 70% or more of their possible points in their last 10 games. 5) Rough week for injuries – Stamkos, Hall, Ryan, Hornqvist, and Gaudreau all went down with substantial injuries. Helm, Hertl, Stralman, Oshie, Hoffman and Landeskog also got hurt. 6) Five teams (Coyotes, Flames, Sabres, Islanders, and Canucks) are on pace to earn fewer points than the last place Leafs earned last year. 7) The Wild are the only team giving up under 2 goals per game (1.81). 8) Nikita Kucherov has been on fire and now has 22 points in only 17 games, leading the league. 9) The Lightning have 2 players in the top 4 point leaders.
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 donate in their name.