Blues At Predators Morning Open Thread: Rinne's Returned

Sometimes, as the country song goes, you have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. The Predators are out of this card game. They're dead last in the Central Division with 62 points, and it looks like they're going to miss the playoffs in the first time since 2008-2009. They traded their longest-tenured Pred, David Legwand, yesterday to the Detroit Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok, and a conditional third round pick.

The Preds made out like bandits, but it's more help for the future than it is help for right now. They're holding their nose as they sink deeper toward a high draft pick.

A big reason that they haven't been the team that the Blues are used to dealing with is due to the loss of goaltender Pekka Rinne to a bacterial infection in his hip. He looked to be in good physical shape in the Preds' 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he was still rusty.

It's not fair to ask him to drag a sinking ship to shore.

The Preds are always a hard opponent for the Blues to play, and tonight shouldn't be any different. The Blues need the two points to stay atop the Central, and the Preds might need the help getting to the first overall pick.

This is your morning open thread. Check back later for a CCR preview, your GDT, and a RBR re-cap. Until then, head over to our friends at On The Forecheck and say hello.