After being embarrassed at home in a 9-2 loss to the Dallas Stars Thursday night, the Nashville Predators travel to St. Louis to take on the red hot Blues in a Saturday afternoon Central Division game.
The Nashville Predators have gone 1-2 out of the All-Star break, and the path to getting back into a playoff spot doesn't get any easier today as they take on the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues currently sit in a wildcard spot tied with the L.A. Kings with 60 points. Nashville and Seattle sit just outside of the playoffs with 56 points, and Minnesota and Calgary are just a point behind. In a tight race for points, today's game feels like a must win for the Predators if they hope to sneak into the postseason.
Mindset has been a concern for head coach Andrew Brunette since the break. After the 9-2 loss on Thursday night Brunette didn't mince words about the team's focus.
"I think [they're] not understanding where we're at or having trouble getting their mind around what's important — that's hockey," Brunette said. "It's not everything else that goes around hockey, it's the game of hockey."
"I don't know if we're understanding the importance of that. Our mind has to be in the game. It can't be on our vacations."
Friday morning the team practiced at Centennial Sportsplex before flying out to St. Louis, and Brunette made sure to send that message on the ice as well as in the locker room. The team worked on drills and special teams but also did plenty of skating.
Andrew Brunette said the loss to the Stars was addressed with the team.
"This one was addressed. I think the standards were not anywhere close to my standard and my expectation of the players in our group," Brunette said.
Of the intensity level of the morning's skate he said, "Today was a day that wasn't probably fun for anybody. It wasn't fun for me. I didn't want to be doing this today, but it needed to be done. It's slipping and we can't let it slip."
Brunette hopes the message was received and that the players are ready to play both physically and mentally against the Blues.
St Louis is playing their best hockey of the season having won eight of their last ten games including a win over the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night. The Blues were down 2-1 after the first period but came back to score four goals in the second period and eventually get a 6-3 win.
Nashville will have to play drastically better than they did on Thursday night against the Blues if they hope to kick off their five road game stretch with a much needed win. Puck drop for today's game is scheduled for 4:00 pm CT and will be broadcast on Bally Sports South. 102.5 The Game will have the radio call as well.