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The first full season under the new local ownership regime started off with a bang (literally in the pre game) Thursday night. Three first period goals and a solid performance in goal powered the St. Louis Blues to a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.
It was as close to a complete effort from the core of the team as there may be all season.
Captain David Backes put in the first goal and added an assist later en route to 1st Star of the Game honors. Forward, and usual Backes linemate, Alexander Steen also added a goal and an assist. In more than 25 minutes on the ice Alex Pietrangelo registered two assists. His pairing partner, Jay Bouwmeester, was on point and let loose the streatch pass that set up Vladimir Sobotka for his break away finish.
TJ Oshie, sporting a shiny new "A" on his sweater, completed a tic-tac-toe play for the game winner.
After that Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne took a seat on the bench. Rookie Carter Hutton took over. The game wasn't even 10 minutes old yet.
The move had the effect Predators bench boss Barry Trotz hoped it would. His squad woke up and eventually drew to within one score thanks to goals from veteran centers Mike Fisher and David Legwand. Legwand's tally came immediately following Oshie ringing a snap shot off the crossbar that the other end.
Possession was generally even, but the Blues were able to use the stretch pass with great effectiveness to break up the control. At times though, especially the Barret Jackman and Roman Polak pairing, struggled to exist the zone and were hemmed in by Preds forward pressure.
Steen put the Blues ahead for good in the third period with a shot from the point that made it through multiple layers of screens to get past Hutton. It was the Blues' second power play conversion of the night.
The effectiveness of Ken Hitchcock's special teams units was in top form. All four Nashville man advantages were killed and two of four power plays converted.
Jaroslav Halak got the start in goal for the Blues and answered the bell virtually every time it rang. Overall he stopped 28 of 30 shots against for his first win of the season.
Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 5th vs. Florida
Must See Replay
Backes to Steen to Oshie for the game winner.
Quick Hits
-- The Steen, Backes, and Oshie line was in mid season form and clearly out performed, and out produced, all others. It's only one game, but if they can bottle that mojo and put it to use more times than not they'll be one of the toughest trios to go against in the Conference.
-- Derek Roy makes the loss of Andy McDonald easier to swallow. He, Chris Stewart, and Brenden Morrow had high points and low points, but in general have the composition of a solid line. For those curious, Morrow was able to get his work visa and dress.
-- Berglund's line that featured Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko was all that was to be expected once the Russian got his legs in the game. Schwartz spent quite a bit of time on the PK as well and was very effective.
--The fourth line of Maxim Lapierre, Sobotka, and Ryan Reaves left a little to be desired. The speed element that the CPR line had just wasn't there with this three. Chris Porter would have brought that (just saying).
-- An area of strength on paper, the corps of defenseman, was one of concern on the ice. Issues with the Jackman/Polak pair highlight the potential need for balance Hitchcock talked about during training camp. Against good forechecking teams a switch to get a puck mover on each pairing may be needed. Flipping Jackman and Jordan Leopold makes the most sense.
-- Nashville's top pick at this summer's draft, Seth Jones, didn't look out of place in his first NHL game. in 18:05 TOI he managed a Plus-2 rating, 3 shots, and 1 hit. He's no Ryan Suter, but the Preds may have their version of a Pietrangelo/Shattenkirk RHD duo very soon.
-- Don't put much stock in to one game in terms of what Rinne's season will look like.
-- Faceoffs were 27/53 to 26/53 with the advantage to the visitors. However, if you pull out Lapierre's 1-for-7 effort the Blues won the battle on the dot decisively 25/46 vs 21/46. Sobotka won 78% of those he took. Maybe another reason to have kept Porter over Adam Cracknell. He could go on left wing while Sobotka moves to the middle and replace Lapierre on the PK. (Okay, enough beating the dead horse)
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