(3-27-25) Blues-Predators Gameday Lineup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Even with a seven-game winning streak on the line when the St. Louis Blues (38-28-7) take on the Nashville Predators (27-36-8) for the third time in 10 days at Bridgestone Arena (7 p.m.; FDSNMW Extra, ESPN 101.1-FM), the Blues continue to battle to hold on to the second wild card in the Western Conference.

Despite going 14-2-2 their past 18 games, taking 30 of a possible 34 points, the good news is the Blues were able to make up the ground that they faced but in saying that, one slip up could be dangerous.

The Blues’ lead for the second wild card is three points over the Vancouver Canucks, four over the Calgary Flames and eight over the Utah Hockey Club.

But the added caveat to all this is now they’re just two points behind the Minnesota Wild for the first wild card.

But the Blues are not as focused on other teams as they’re focused on themselves, and that’s enabled them to be in the position they’re in.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” said Blues forward Dylan Holloway, who carries an eight-game point streak (four goals, nine assists) into tonight’s game. “We know it's a tight race. The biggest thing is we've just got to control what we can control. We can't control other teams and their outcomes, so the biggest thing for us is to just keep playing the way we are. We know what works, so just keep going.”

Coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Blues were solely focused on trying to gain ground on the second wild card. Now with Minnesota falling back to the pack, the first wild card is also in play.

“That's definitely the goal,” Holloway said. ‘We've got nine games left and we've just got to go a game at a time. We can't start thinking about other teams and the outcomes of their games. We've just got to focus one game at a time and try and get that two points every game. If we go in with that mindset, we should be good.”

The current winning streak has had a little bit of everything.

“I think it’s just selfless, committed hockey to process the way we believe we need to play in order to have success,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Everyone’s playing well. Our top six are scoring, they’re playing defense; our bottom six are scoring and they’re hanging onto pucks and protecting pucks and our D-corps has been really solid. And we’re missing two of our top players (defenseman Colton Parayko and forward Pavel Buchnevich), and goaltending. I didn’t like the last nine minutes of the second (period on Tuesday). ‘Binner’ had to make four or five really big-time saves, and he made them look easy.”

The Blues have outscored their opposition 34-10 during their winning streak and have scored four or more goals in each contest.

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It will be the third matchup in 10 days between the Blues and Predators, and the Blues have won matching 4-1 results, winning here in this building March 18 and again at Enterprise Center last Sunday.

Each game has had it’s share of nastiness to it, but each coach downplayed that factor as something to keep an eye on tonight.

“Not really because a lot of times when you expect it, nothing happens,” Montgomery said. “We’re just focused on ourselves. We’re not worried about stuff like that.

“We know they play really hard, they’re a physical team, you’re going to have to earn what you get. We haven’t had that many scoring chances against them. They really are defending hard. We’ve just got to stay with it, stay with our process, play to the goal line and make sure we’re forechecking, reloading and back checking.”

Predators coach Andrew Brunette added, “No, let’s just play hard, play in their face. I thought we did a real good job in their building and we didn’t get rewarded. Now we’re here back in here. When you play a team three times in a week, there’s going to be a bit of a rivalry going, a little intensity to the games. I expect that tonight.”

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Parayko skated again on Thursday but will miss his 11th straight game after having his left knee scoped from an injury in a 3-2 shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings on March 5.

Parayko participated in the morning skate prior to a 6-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and again in Wednesday’s optional.

“There’s a program he’s under and it starts with (head athletic trainer) Ray Barile,” Montgomery said. “It started with him on the ice and now it’s progressing to doing morning skates and doing extra stuff with (assistant coach) Mike Weber.”

As for Buchnevich, who has missed three games due to illness, he did not accompany the team initially on its two-game trip that concludes Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche, but Montgomery said he believes the forward was flying in on Thursday afternoon to meet the team for the remainder of the trip.

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Dalibor Dvorsky, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, will be a healthy scratch again on Thursday after making his debut against the Predators last Sunday, playing 10:49 with no points.

The center has been gaining the necessary experience off the ice that the Blues hope will help for a better transition for when he becomes more of a regular on the ice.

“Every day he can grow, he’s so young and learning just how to travel on the road, what this building looks like, how do you get here,” Montgomery said. “All those little things and then the extra work he gets to do and the pace of our practices is really going to benefit him.

“Very inquisitive. He has a thirst for knowledge. It’s awesome.”

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Thursday will be Radek Faksa’s 700th NHL game.

The center was the 13th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars and has carved out a niche of how to play in the league, and this is his first season with the Blues, qho acquired him from Dallas on July 2 for future considerations.

“It’s a big number, but compared to some guys in the dressing room, it’s still nothing,” Faksa joked. “It doesn’t feel that special. ‘Sutes’, ‘Cammy’, ‘Leds’, ‘Schenner’ … yeah.”

Faksa, who has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and is a plus-1 in 61 games this season, follows Ryan Suter (1,500), Cam Fowler, Nick Leddy and Brayden Schenn, all who either hit 1,000 games played this season or last.

“When you compare 1,500 and 700, it’s like nothing,” Faksa said, whose first game was against Jaromir Jagr and the Florida Panthers.

“He was my idol,” Faksa said. “I got to play against him the first game. That’s why I remember the most. It’s a dream come true. First game you will never forget.”

Linemate Nathan Walker said, “Obviously on the ice, you see what he does. And then off the ice, he’s a good person, good family man. Him, Torpo and myself, we get along pretty well and in the locker room as well. He’s a great dude and it’s a great milestone. Obviously he can keep climbing and get more.”

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Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Zack Bolduc

Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Alexandre Texier-Oskar Sundqvist-Mathieu Joseph

Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Raksa-Nathan Walker

Cam Fowler-Nick Leddy

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker

Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Matthew Kessel and Dalibor Dvorsky. Colton Parayko (knee) and Pavel Buchnevich (illness) are out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.

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Predators Projected Lineup:

Filip Forsberg-Ryan O'Reilly-Luke Evangelista

Michael Bunting-Steven Stamkos-Jonathan Marchessault

Cole Smith-Fedor Svechkov-Colton Sissons

Zachary L’Heureux-Michael McCarron-Kieffer Bellows

Brady Skjei-Nick Blankenburg

Marc Del Gaizo-Justin Barron

Andreas Englund-Spencer Stastney

Juuse Saros will start in goal; Justus Annunen will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Jordan Oesterle and Jakub Vrana. Jeremy Lauzon (lower body), Adam Wilsby (upper body) and Roman Josi (upper body) are out.