The St Louis Blues (16-16-4) had a nice win going into the Christmas break with a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. The Nashville Predators (11-17-7) are on a two-game winning streak, earning a win over Carolina on Monday, 5-2. The Preds are in 7th place in the Central Division, with Blues holding the 6th spot…on 2 points out of a wild-card playoff spot.
Brandon Saad is on the third line for Neighbours as Alexandre Texier could not play due to illness. Joel Hofer is the starter for the Blues after going 4-0-1 in the last five starts this season. The Predators start Juuse Saros in the first of four matches this season.
The Blues have seven of their next 10 games at home and they need to make the Enterprise Center a painful place to play.
Blues get the scoring going early and often...
At 1:20 into the game, after Nashville had two early shots on the net by Ex-Blue Captain Ryan O’Reilly…Hofer with solid saves…Robert Thomas picks off a pass…. He gets his seventh of the year by skating between two defensemen and firing it high to the stick side…what a shot! The first Blues shot on the goal.
Zack Bolduc lasers a shot over the glove of Saros for his fifth of the year. Oskar Sundqvist and Justin Faulk with the assists…2:47 in and the Blues are up two-zip.
Nashville goes to the powerplay at 3:38 as Jordan Kyrou takes a penalty. Two shots against as the penalty ended, and the Preds scored on a rebound that eluded three Blues defensemen in the slot area a few seconds after the penalty ended…2-1…3 goals in the first six minutes…scoring happening early and often.
Blues control the puck with some hard work by the Brayden Schenn – Dylan Holloway - and Jordan Kyrou line…Kyrou does a 360-degree spin in the high slot and sizzles a wrist shot past Saros for his team-leading 15th of the season. 10:03 left in the period and Blues lead 3-1. Cam Fowler and Holloway with assists.
Jake Neighbours takes a hard hit from behind, driving Jake’s head into the glass…a review by the officials for a 5-minute major…and a boarding minor is called. Blues to the powerplay….9:14 left…but 1 minute in Cam Fowler called for a hold, and we went 4-on-4 for 56 seconds. At 6:43, Steven Stamkos scores high over the glove of Hofer…a powerplay goal to make it 3-2. One shot on the PP and a goal against.
Tyler Tucker takes on Lauzon in a fight…who hit Neighbours into the boards right off the faceoff…way to stand up for his teammates!
Blues get a powerplay with 4 minutes left…Nashville is very aggressive on the kill…the best in the league killing penalties at 86%. Cam Fowler blasts a slap shot from the blue line for his first goal as a Blue to make it 4-2 with just less than two minutes left and a tick after the penalty ended. Holloway and Thomas get the assists. Good pressure on the PP and screening in front of Saros.
What a first period…six goals on 21 total shots by both teams…4-2 Blues, and have the edge in shots 11 to 10. With four goals, the Blues tie for their most goals in a period of the season.
It’s a barnburner…Goals keep coming in the 2nd…
Just five minutes into the period…some tight checking and no scoring…shocking!!
At 5:31 in, Nashville gets on the board as Hofer goes for a poke check, and it’s tucked in five-hole…Nashville is back within one…4-3. Goalies are a bit rusty in this one…seven goals overall on 25 shots.
Blues make it 5-3 with 4:31 left when Philip Broberg sweeps one high to the glove side on a drop pass from Bolduc and Sunqvist the 2nd assist…Broberg’s 3rd of the year. Nashville, with a goalie change, Annunen comes in after Saros allows five goals on 15 shots. Broberg’s first goal in 16 games.
With 22 seconds left, Robert Thomas splits two defenders and draws a penalty on a great play to the net. The powerplay will carry over to the 3rd period.
Blues lead in shots after trading goals in the period…20 to 18...39 hits combined in the game…
Defend/Extend the 2-goal lead in the 3rd…
Blues continued the powerplay to open the 3rd period for 1:38. Only mustered two shots on the PP…0/3 on the night.
Nashville to the powerplay with 10:08 left in the period. A big kill was needed for the Blues…but the Predators capitalized to make it a one-goal game as Hofer couldn’t make the save after a cross-ice pass. 5 to 4 as they scored their 2nd powerplay goal.
With just over 6 minutes left, the teams go 4-on-4 with matching penalties. And at 5:44, the Blues go to a 4-on-3 powerplay after Thomas is hooked. 1 minute and 25 seconds with the 4-on-3. Great opportunity!!! With 4:50 left, Thomas with a rocket from the right faceoff circle. Fowler and Kyrou with assists. Thomas’s 8th to restore the two-goal lead.
Nashville pulls the goalie with 3:20 left. Shots are even at 28 with three minutes left.
Blues Justin Faulk takes a tripping penalty with 1:24 left…with the Blues able to ice the puck…Colton Parayko with the clearing attempt and it goes off the boards and into the empty net…7-4 Blues with 1 minute left. Highest goals scored by the Blues on the season and that’s how it ends.
Nashville out shoots the Blues 30 to 29 and Hofer is 5-0-1 in his last 6 starts. Hits were 27 to 26 Nashville.
3 Stars…Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas, and #1 Cam Fowler with a goal, 2 assists and 5 blocked shots. Bolduc as an honorable mention as he played a super game.