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 “We’re playing some good hockey, we’re competing, we’re getting
contributions from a lot of guys,” Nashville center Mike Fisher told
reporters after a 3-1 triumph at Chicago on Thursday. “We’re
definitely playing a better game all around. It’s obviously
showing.” The Predators will try to snap a five-game losing streak
against the Blues, who have dropped two straight after a 6-0-1
stretch. Leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko has recorded a pair of
tallies and three assists in his last two contests, but St. Louis
managed one goal on 36 shots during a home loss to the New York
Rangers on Thursday. “We’ve got to see another gear, a level of
determination, a hunger around the net if we expect to score goals,”
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE BLUES (35-19-9): Top-pair defenseman Alex Pietrangelo
could return to the lineup against Nashville or Sunday at Carolina
after missing three weeks with a knee injury. That should help a
defense that has surrendered 12 goals over the last three contests –
four on 40 shots in two games against Jake Allen since his return
from injured reserve. Ryan Reaves will be serving the second contest
of his three-game suspension for an illegal hit while Jori Lehtera
is questionable after getting hit in the face with the puck on
Thursday.
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ABOUT THE PREDATORS (30-21-11): Filip Forsberg has played a big part
in Nashville’s surge, recording nine goals in his last 10 contests
to take over the team lead with 23 – three shy of last season’s
career-high total. Forsberg has notched 42 points overall – two
behind defenseman Roman Josi for the team lead. All-Star defenseman
Shea Weber (36 points) could miss his third straight game with a
lower-body injury, but veteran Pekka Rinne has been outstanding in
his last four contests - posting a 3-0-1 record and .969 save
percentage.
OVERTIME
1. The Blues have recorded a power-play goal in five straight games
and eight of their last nine.
2. Nashville C Ryan Johansen is mired in a six-game point drought
and has not scored a goal in 10 contests.
3. St. Louis LW Jaden Schwartz has collected four goals and two
assists over his last seven games but missed practice Friday with an
undisclosed injury and will be evaluated Saturday.
PREDICTION: Predators 4, Blues 2
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