This is a big game that will tell us a lot about this team. I thought they competed extremely hard against an outstanding Eastern team (easily the toughest Eastern opponent the Blues have faced this year by a mile) and were shown where the true bar is if they want to be champs. Whereas earlier in the week I thought the back-to-backness of it might be a problem, here I think it's actually beneficial, just because of how last night went down. I think the Blues will come out flying tonight.
Nashville is playing some great hockey right now, so this will be a battle of who is willing to commit to whatever it takes to win. The Blues should be aware of how likely a future meeting with the Preds is. A lot of bad runs need to break tonight. Losses against Nashville, Hitchcock against Trotz, results against the Central, results on the road in back to backs. A win would be huge for the Blues' confidence and given the importance of the road trip I'd feel good heading into the next three games.
A loss and they should be very surly all around. It would be the first time I'd have to say, yeah, they're still not ready to win a playoff series against a tough opponent.
I know it's the Preds, but I have a real good feeling about this one. We know we can outplay this team, and the Blues have to be fired up and looking for redemption after yesterday's home loss. We've got this people, I'm going with a 3-1 Blues win...Go Blues!!!
The losing streak continues, I feel. Rinne won't be in net; no one will be, Rinne will stop them all from his couch at home by thinking about the puck. A couple of the Preds might take a nap late in the 2nd period as well.
I think the Blues will play very aggressively in this game. Hopefully it'll be a solid "let them play" game because although the Blues have been getting great puck movement lately on the PP, you don't want to get in a special teams battle with the Preds' power play.
Blues need a win if only to stop the out of control Rinne mythmaking that's going on around here. Blues are .611 against Rinne in Nashville in nine games lifetime. Fact.
Over the course of a full season, the Blues' lifetime .611 against Rinne in Nashville would give them just over 100 points and a playoff berth every single year. Fact.
