STL/Nash from sportsline
STL/Nash from sportsline
GAME: St. Louis Blues (36-25-8-4) at Nashville Predators (26-35-13-0).
TIME: Saturday, 8 p.m. EST.
With a playoff berth uncertain and a brutal schedule remaining, the St. Louis Blues should be very happy to see the Nashville Predators.
The Blues look to continue their recent domination of the Predators when the Central Division rivals meet for the fourth time this season.
St. Louis is in a tight battle for playoff postioning in the crowded Western Conference. It could climb as high as fourth place or end up out of the postseason altogether. Seven teams, including the Blues, are vying for the final five spots.
The Blues don't get much help from their schedule. St. Louis faces Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado, San Jose and Detroit twice, in addition to its two remaining meetings with Nashville.
The Predators aren't usually an easy opponent for most teams, as they are known as one of the hardest-working clubs in the NHL. The Blues, however, have had little trouble with them lately, winning the last two meetings by a combined 12-3 score.
St. Louis broke a two-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Buffalo on Thursday. Keith Tkachuk scored two goals in his first game since serving a one-game suspension, and Brent Johnson had to make only 12 saves for the Blues.
"We haven't had that too often this year, where we're in control going into the third period," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We've had a hard time scoring. We needed a win in the worst way.
"I like the way we played. It was most convincing."
St. Louis, playing the second contest on a three-game road trip, is home for five of its last six.
The Predators have played much better since a six-game losing streak, going 1-1-2 and tying Detroit twice.
Nashville nearly beat the Red Wings on Thursday, but Detroit rallied with two goals in the final 3:39 of regulation and wound up with a 3-3 tie that earned a point and clinched the Presidents' Trophy.
"We played smart and did the little things that give you a 2-0 lead," Nashville defenseman Bill Houlder said. "But we were more hesitant in the third period."
STANDINGS: Blues - 84 points, 3rd place, 26 PB, Central Division. Predators - 65 points, 4th place, 45 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Blues - Tkachuk, 33 goals; Pavol Demitra, 40 assists and 68 points; Reed Low, 146 PIM. Predators - Denis Arkhipov, 19 goals; Scott Hartnell, 26 assists; Greg Johnson, 41 points; Reid Simpson, 123 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through March 28): Blues - Power play: 16.3 percent (51 for 312), 11th in NHL. Penalty killing: 85.1 percent (286 for 336), 14th. Predators - Power play: 14.4 percent (44 for 305), 22nd. Penalty killing: 86.6 percent (272 for 314), 5th.
GOALTENDERS: Blues - Johnson (28-19-4, 5 SO, 2.22 GAA); Fred Brathwaite (8-10-4, 2, 2.12). Predators - Mike Dunham (21-23-9, 3, 2.61); Tomas Vokoun (5-12-4, 2, 2.70).
SEASON SERIES: Blues, 2-0-1. Now-departed Mike Keane scored with 9:16 to play in the second period to lift St. Louis into a 2-2 tie in the teams' first matchup Oct. 6 at Nashville. Demitra and Scott Young each scored twice as the Blues routed the Predators 7-2 on Dec. 30 at the Savvis Center.
LAST MEETING: March 19; Blues, 5-1. At St. Louis, five Blues scored and Johnson made 25 saves.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blues - 13-14-7-3 on the road; Predators - 16-14-8-0 at home.
