Last night's game sure took a lot of steam out of the Blues Bandwagon. The post-game comments on Twitter were chock-full of "if only" claims. If only Jamie Langenbrunner was healthy. If only we had that magical sniper that finishes the offensive rushes. If only Alexander Steen was back with the team. Maybe if we had a playmaker that could set up the shooters that we already have. We'd be OK if only the team just played to their potential. Trade Chris Stewart. Trade Patrik Berglund. Trade Barret Jackman. Save Ferris. If only.... If only. I don't know what that One Key Move is. Thankfully, I don't need to; Armstrong is on the case.
(I Got Everything I Need) Almost / The Blues Brothers
The Enemy: This is the 5th meeting between these two teams, so there's not much that I need to tell you. I would recommend a 5th of your own, though, if you know what I mean. The Preds have really turned things around since the new year began. In the month of January, their record was 11-2-0, winning both on the road and at home. In February, they have cooled off somewhat, with a 4-3-2 record. Still though, they are a well-coached and formidable team to play against, and as long as they keep Pekka Rinne (currently 2.37 GAA and .920 SV%), they will have a chance to win most games. They are led in goals by Mike Fisher (18G / 19A) and in overall points by Martin Erat (13G / 31A). The only new face on the team of significance is the SS Hal Gill. The Preds traded Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney to Montreal for Gill and a conditional 5th-round pick. Gill is 6' 7" and 244 pounds, and beefs up an already solid blueline for Nashville.
The Preds have taken each of the previous 4 games this year, and they've all been 1-goal games (not counting empty-netters). Rinne has been amazing - his numbers for those games: 1.20 GAA / .967 SV%. A win tonight would be very timely: An important division win, a defeat of a nemesis defense/goalie, and an important rebound after a tough loss to Boston.
Further Reading:
Blues vs Predators coverage
Final Verse: The puck drops at 7 PM Central time, with the broadcasts on the usual outlets: FoxSportsMW for TV, and KMOX 1120 AM for the radio call. Until then, this is your pre-game warm-up. Gather here, lament the loss to the Bruins, talk your fellow Blues fans off of the ledge, mock the bandwagon, and speculate what fixes the Blues need. Of course, there's another musical answer to that dilemma...
Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero (via IchnosX3)
LGB!
-CrossCheckRaise