Predators at Blues
THE STORY: The St. Louis Blues have been difficult to beat since Ken
Hitchcock took over the reins. However, they will still be searching
for their first win of the season against the Nashville Predators when
the Central Division rivals face off in St. Louis on Friday. Hitchcock
has turned the Blues around since taking over for Davis Payne on Nov. 6,
guiding the club to a 15-4-4 overall record and an 11-2-1 mark at home.
But St. Louis has dropped both its meetings with the Predators in
2011-12, including a 2-1 shootout loss at Nashville on Dec. 17. The
Blues enter this matchup with a six-game winning streak at home, while
the Predators have lost three of five overall and two straight on the
road. However, both teams have recorded seven wins over their last 10
contests.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (19-14-4):
David Legwand has been a thorn in the Blues' side this season. The
31-year-old scored two goals and set up two others in a 4-2 triumph at
St. Louis on Oct. 8, then netted the decisive tally in the shootout
triumph earlier this month. Legwand has 11 goals and 32 points in 62
career games against the Blues. Nashville has been a little thin on the
blue line as captain Shea Weber has missed two games with a concussion
and Kevin Klein has been sidelined five contests with flu-like symptoms.
ABOUT THE BLUES (21-11-4): After hosting the Predators,
St. Louis returns to Joe Louis Arena for the second time in five days to
take on the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. The Blues are 2-1-0 against
Detroit this season, with all three games being decided by one goal.
Goaltender Brian Elliott has allowed more than two tallies only three
times in 19 appearances this season but twice in his last three starts.
Elliott is second in the league in both goals against average (1.63) and
shutouts (four), and third in save percentage (.940).
OVERTIME:
1. St. Louis is 4-1-2 in its last seven overall
meetings with Nashville, but has dropped six of eight against the
Predators at home.
2. The Predators have captured 31 of the last 44 matchups in the all-time series.