Blues Gameday 11-27-09: Blues vs. Predators
The Blues and Predators have one of the better regional rivalries. Just imagine when they finally meet in the playoffs.
Game Info
Location: Sommet Center, Nashville, TN.
Game-time: 7:00 pm Central
TV: Check Local Listings or Blues Website
Radio: KMOX 1120 AM
The Blues meet the Nashville Predators to renew their rivalry for the second time this season tonight. The Blues are coming off an important road win in Dallas Wednesday night. Nashville is riding Pekka Rinne and David Legwand to the tune of a seven game winning streak. Nashville has scored 21 goals in those seven games. While Nashville doesn’t have the well know names, they are still scoring goals and the Blues will need to be ready to play tonight.
Food For Thought
Nashville’s power play is rated 18th at an 18.6% conversion rate. Not the best, but looking better than the Blues.
Nashville is looking for its franchise record 8th straight win.
The Predators have one of the best home records in the Western Conference at 8-3-0. The Blues have been solid on the road, going 4-1-3 for 11 points out of a possible 16 points.
The Blues still boast a top-10 penalty kill, stopping 83% of power play chances.
The Blues are still undefeated when scoring three goals or more. Nashville is win-less in four games when they have allowed three goals or more.
Can the Blues ditch the predictable mold? Will we see Johnson and Colaiacovo on their off hand side on the point? Can the Blues stop forcing the puck deep when the play isn’t there? Can they reopen the slot when Nashville collapses? We shall see. The offensive zone play is improving; hopefully tonight will be a continuation
Something has to give:
Paul Kariya and Brad Boyes are due. Kariya has been working hard and Boyes has to get going at some point. Tonight will be the night? Kariya against his old team and Boyes against a team he has produced well against? Sounds good to me. Both guys are just too talented to have struggled this much. There is no where to go but up from the bottom.
Difference Makers:
What will each team’s top right winger bring to tonight’s game?
Brad Boyes has been extremely streak in terms of production and inconsistent in all other facets. He does have a solid history of production against the Preds. In the last three seasons he has nine goals and four assists in 15 games. With David Backes getting the goal scoring monkey off his back in Dallas, it would be nice to see Boyes breakout in Nashville.
JP Dumont has 16 points in his 16 games so far this season. Dumont leads the Preds with 12 assists. Dumont may not score many goals, but he is responsible for creating a good number of the Preds goals. In the last three seasons Dumont has seven points in 13 games against the Blues. Can his improved production this year equal more points versus the Blues.
Tonight’s game will come down to which marquee winger can stick it to the other team.
Player Notes:
Per the St. Louis Post Dispatch, expect the line up to remain the same with Chris Mason in net instead of Ty Conklin.
Take this for what it’s worth…Andy Strickland tweeted today that Capt. Eric Brewer could miss tonight’s game with a “nagging injury”. We shall see come game time what is going on there.
It looks lkie that for now Patrik Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo aren’t going to just be put back in the line up “just because”. The team has competed well with the 20 it has been dressing lately. That could change with a bad night against Nashville.
No expected injury scratches for the Predators. I would assume that Pekka Rinne will get his 8th straight start.
Who to Watch for?
Shea Weber
Shea Weber has a cannon shot from the point and is one of the 10 best two-way Defensemen in the NHL. To date he has 6 goals and 15 points (9 of which are on the power play) in 21 games.
