The St. Louis Blues are currently riding a seven game winning streak and are looking to extend it against the Nashville Predators. The Blues are at home tonight for their second game of a five game home stand, winning their last game, 4-3, against the New Jersey Devils.
The Blues, lead by their young star, Vladimir Tarasenko, have really picked up their play from the start of the season and are currently the hottest team in the National Hockey League. The Blues have won seven straight, the longest running win streak in the NHL. Their seven straight victories also ties the Anaheim Ducks for the longest winning streak of the season.
The Blues offense, lead by the Jaden Schwartz and the aforementioned Tarasenko, has been very impressive to start the season. Both Schwartz and Tarasenko have combined for 15 of the Blues 32 goals this season. Alexander Steen, David Backes, Jori Lehtera, and Ryan Reaves are the only other Blues to have more than one goal of the season.
Brian Elliott and Jake Allen have both been superb in the net this year, combing for a 9-3-1 record. Elliott has won five games while Allen has won the other four (two of which by way of a shutout). They've shut up the experts who said that the goaltending would be the Blues weak link this season.
The most impressive part of the Blues winning streak that they are on, is the fact that they have done it without some of their best players. Paul Stastny returned last game after missing time with an upper body injury. David Backes (missed one game due to a concussion), T.J. Oshie (currently out with a concussion), and Joakim Lindstrom (bacterial mumps) have all missed time in the current winning streak.
The Nashville Predators have taken a leap forward this season, currently holding an 8-3-2 record, just one point behind the Blues, and good for second in the central division. They've been lead offensively by Filip Forsberg (13 points), Mike Ribeiro (10 points), and James Neal (nine points).
Former Blues forward, Derek Roy, is off to a good start with Nashville, recording seven assists in the teams 13 game. Roy registered 37 points with the Blues last season, scoring 9 goals and adding 28 assists. The Ottawa, Ontario native is just one point shy of 500 in his career.
Pekka Rinne leads the Predators with eight wins on the season. Rinne always plays well against the Blues as well. However the Blues are currently riding a six game winning streak over the Predators, but much of that was without the Rinne, who missed most of last year due to injury.
The Blues players to watch tonight is Ian Cole. Cole has one of his best games of the season last game against the Devils. Cole scored a goal last game against the Devils, but it was waived off due to Jori Lehtera being pushed into Cory Schneider. Cole then proceeded to ring a shot off the post later in the game. He has played well the last few games, paired with veteran defensemen, Barret Jackman.
The Predators player to watch has to be Olli Jokinen. Jokinen is coming off a 43 point season with the Winnipeg Jets and signed with the Predators as a free agent. The Kuopio, Finland native has yet to record a point this season and is looking to find a way to pop that goose egg against the Blues tonight.
Check back here after the game as I break down the goals, saves, and stars of tonight's game.
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