The Nashville Predators have put together a string of solid performances and hope to continue that this afternoon as they face off against the St. Louis Blues.
The Nashville Predators have won their last three games in a row and today hope to extend that win streak as they travel to St. Louis to take on the 10-7-1 Blues. The Blues are coming off of a wild win over the Arizona Coyotes in a game that had four lead changes, two shorthanded scores by the Blues, and a total of eleven goals. The win in Arizona wrapped up a four game road trip for the Blues that saw them return home 2-2.
Despite those two road losses, the Blues have found their stride recently going 7-3 in their last ten games and getting scoring up and down their lineup. Goaltender Jordan Binnington is 5-5-0-1 with a .912 save percentage while backup Joel Hofer has gone 5-2 in his seven games played.
The Nashville Predators are on a three game win streak after losing four in a row, and a win over today's Central Division opponent would help the Preds continue a slow climb up the division rankings. The Predators have been able to close out their last three games, something they weren't able to do even with leads in that four game losing streak.
"We left a lot of points on the board where we were leading," Andrew Brunette said of those losses. "We talked about it in the last little while."
"We were in that position again even tonight," Brunette said after Wednesday night's win over Calgary. "Where we own these games and get nothing out of it, so just that understanding of where we're at, that every little play matters, every puck makes a difference in the game. It gets easier when you continuously think that way and play that way."
Nashville was also helped Wednesday night by the return of veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh who missed seven games with a lower body injury.
What do the Predators need to do this afternoon to continue this win streak?
Interrupt the transition game.
St. Louis scores plenty of goals off the rush, and Nashville will need to forecheck and interrupt the Blues' transition game. Two of their six goals against Arizona came off the rush and two more were scored shorthanded. Slowing the Blues down will benefit the Preds.
Get Filip Forsberg going.
Forsberg has been on a tear lately scoring eight goals and 12 points in his last eight games including three multi goal games. The top line of Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gustav Nyquist has a combined eight goals and 20 points in the last five games and are Nashville's top three points scorers so far this season.
Nov 22, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) blocks the shot of Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY SportsSupport Saros (or Lankinen).
No official word yet from the team on who will start in net this afternoon, but whether it is Juuse Saros or Kevin Lankinen, the team needs to provide support for their goaltender. That is something that Andrew Brunette felt was missing in several of the Predators' losses.
After the win over Calgary, Brunette addressed Juuse Saros' last two wins.
"A quiet, unassuming, really good game," Brunette said after the win over the Flames. "Both games looked a lot tighter for me. It was a little bit self inflicted from our group. We were a little bit loose in the Arizona game and put him in bad positions."
The Predators face off against the St. Louis Blue for an afternoon game. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.