The Nashville Predators will host the St. Louis Blues tonight in their fourth and final match up of the season. The Blues have won the first three games between these Central Division rivals, but the Predators are hungry to get the win in a game that promises high intensity.
This will be the third game in ten days between the two teams, and with 112 combined penalty minutes including four game misconducts in the last two contests, emotions will be running high at Bridgestone Arena.
“It’s definitely more physical, more emotion involved in the game,” Ryan O’Reilly said after morning skate.
“When you play each other like this it has that playoff feel. When you’re seeing each other again, there’s big hits and there’s just that much more emotional investment.”
While the Predators have little to no chance to make a playoff appearance, the Blues are the hottest team in the NHL right now and are battling to clinch a spot in the postseason. Playing the role of “spoiler” is a big motivation for the Predators locker room tonight.
“It’s exciting for us because they’re fighting for their life to stay in a wildcard spot,” said defenseman Nick Blankenburg.
“We’re trying to obviously ruin some teams’ plans, whether that’s making the playoffs or building towards something.”
Since returning from the Four Nations break, the Blues have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL. In the last two weeks, forwards Dylan Halloway and Robert Thomas have tied for most points by any player in the league. Jordan Kyrou leads NHL in that time frame for goals scored which includes three goals against the Predators.
Nashville has generated offensive chances in the previous two games outshooting the Blues 55-39, but Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have only allowed one goal a piece in those matchups. Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen have allowed eight goals in those games.
Three games in ten days against the Blues increases an already tense Central Division rivalry.
“Getting to know a team pretty well when you play them this many times obviously creates that tension, that rivalry,” Luke Evangelista said. “It should be a good one.”
Andrew Brunette expects the intensity to increase in tonight’s game but says the game plan remains the same.
“Just play hard. Play in their face,” Brunette said. “I thought we did a really good job in their building. Didn’t get rewarded. Now we’re back here.”
“When you play a team three times in a week, there’s going to be a little rivalry going, a little intensity to the games. I expect that.”
The Predators hope to carry over some positive momentum from Tuesday night’s gutsy road win against the Carolina Hurricanes into tonight’s contest.
“It’s so hard to win in this league, as you’ve seen this year,” O’Reilly said. “It’s just a good feeling. Guys come in today, you feel a little bit better. Yeah, we have to play with the puck more. We have to do a lot better things, but still we found a way to win.”
The Predators hope Tuesday’s momentum helps them break the Blues’ seven game win streak tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT at Bridgestone Arena.
