St. Louis Game Time - Blues At Predators GameDay Storystream: Rested Blues Look To Win Fourth Against PredsWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2016-02-02T23:53:04-06:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/106577132016-02-02T23:53:04-06:002016-02-02T23:53:04-06:00Blues Vs. Predators Recap: From Zzzzzz to Sixty in 58:55 minutes.
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w596PKt8zLiMy1Ic7Q3ov5W5TI4=/0x201:2373x1783/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48717607/usa-today-9092964.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Better late than never - Troy Brouwer, probably. </p> <p>DISCLAIMER: I apologize in advance for the NHL wanting to roll out <strike>GameCenter 2.0</strike> NHL.tv tonight and messing up pretty much everything that went along with it. Long story short, limited video highlights for us tonight. However, the official <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.nhl.com/news/brouwers-late-goal-helps-blues-edge-predators/c-278184532" target="_blank">NHL recap</a> has a few.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/brouwers-late-goal-helps-blues-edge-predators/c-278184532" target="_blank"></a><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> Lineup:</b></p>
<p>The lineups would be very different tonight as the Blues (Hitch) would turn to yet another combo of forwards. Tonight's lines were: Backes, Steen, Berglund (yes, that's Steen playing center) Fabbri, Lehtera, Brouwer...Making a return to the lineup tonight would be <span>Magnus Paajarvi</span> and he would be paired with Stastny and Tarasenko (sorry Paul and Vladimir) and finally Jaskin, Brozdiak and Upshall. The defensive pairs tonight were: Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo...Edmundson, Shattenkirk, and Gunnarsson, Parayko. Starting in net would be <span>Brian Elliott</span>.</p>
<p><b>First Period:</b></p>
<p>The Blues were off for 9 straight days, and had all of one full practice (that I'm aware). They sure showed it in the first. They looked rusty, flat, and just plain not into it. Most of the Blues anyway. Elliott looked pretty sharp for not having done anything though. Midway through the first he would deny newest Pred Ryan Johansen of a point blank chance. <span>James Neal</span> would have another chance soon after, but Elliott would stand tall and deny him the chance. As far as the Blues, nothing. Neither team had ten shots on goal, and at one point even the score board decided to stop working.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One period in the books: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/preds?src=hash">#preds</a> scoreless. Shots are ... I have no idea since it's been 2-0 for last 18 minutes.</p>
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/status/694697283145895937">February 3, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Despite what that board may have said shots were 8-4 for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Predators</a>, but yeah...2-0 kinda seemed right.</p>
<p><b>Second Period:</b></p>
<p>The Blues would finally start looking like a hockey team in the second. Although, after that first period that bar was pretty low. <span>Patrik Berglund</span>, usually the whipping boy of fans (sometimes myself included. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt) actually played a decent game tonight. In fact, within the first thirty seconds of the second he had the Blues first really good chance of the game. Shorthanded even. Late in the second, the Preds had a 2 on 1 chance but Elliott would make the stop. That chance was only one of 3 shots for the Preds in the second frame. The Blues on the other hand, while the chances weren't spectacular, at least got 7 shots on net, so progress was there, just not enough.</p>
<p><b>Third Period:</b></p>
<p>Blues finally seemed to be awake in the third. Paajarvi would get the Blues best chance of the night, but Rinne would make a great pad save on both the initial shot and the rebound chance. The Blues would get a lucky bounce way late in the game. With a minute and five seconds left, <span>Troy Brouwer</span> would score the game winner off of his shin to give the Blues a 1-0 win. Pietrangelo had the intial shot (in fact at first it was called as his goal), but instead Brouwer would pick up his tenth goal of the year.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/TroyBrouwer36">@TroyBrouwer36</a> scored late. And when you score the GWG w/ 1:05 left, you get the <a href="https://twitter.com/WarriorHockey">@WarriorHockey</a> Play of the Game.<a href="https://t.co/G6q9kGncyq">https://t.co/G6q9kGncyq</a></p>
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/694735069831782400">February 3, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<p>The aforementioned Pietrangelo(19) and <span>Robby Fabbri</span> (8) would get the assists. Elliott would get the 16 save shutout. (Don't let that small number fool you. There were a few times that he made some key saves). A win is a win, and a divisional win at that. The Blues would hold the Preds to just eight shots in the final two periods. They would outshoot the Preds The Blues return home Thursday to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">Sharks</a>.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Group hugs all around, boys. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="https://t.co/DBeQUOQCmE">pic.twitter.com/DBeQUOQCmE</a></p>
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMS_74_/status/694731164083310594">February 3, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a>:</b></p>
<p>Third Star: Brian Elliott (16 saves, shutout, never changing out of the cujo gear. Even when not playing)</p>
<p>Second Star: <span>Pekka Rinne</span> (23 saves, best player on the ice for Preds tonight)</p>
<p>First Star: Troy Brouwer (1 goal, still no word on if he will be in the new Brouwer er, Power Rangers movie)</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/2/2/10902374/blues-vs-predators-recap-from-zzzzzz-to-sixty-in-58-55-minutesJustin422016-02-02T18:30:02-06:002016-02-02T18:30:02-06:00GameThread: St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3eIo2UrWaNxQReV3sALZ7Y-iLU4=/0x168:3473x2483/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48714805/usa-today-8909305.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blues are back at it tonight against an opponent that they've beaten three times already this season.</p> <p>Well, this is certainly unique. <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/blues-move-steen-to-center-backes-to-right-wing/article_653c1669-a118-5553-8cfe-ba64186ce6ce.html">Via Jeremy Rutherford, the Blues have made adjustments</a>:</p>
<blockquote> <p><span>Alexander Steen</span> will move to center, pushing <span>David Backes</span> to the right wing. The third member of the line isPatrik Berglund, who will now line up on the left side.</p> <p>"We need more 'hunt on the puck,' which is right up David's alley," <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> coach Ken Hitchcock said. "And the only way we can do that is to put a center iceman in there that plays well with him. We just feel that by turning a couple of people loose, we can get more pressure on the puck. That's one of the things that we looked at when we did analytics ... we don't create enough turnovers. The way you can do that is put more speed and more big bodies in on the forecheck."</p> </blockquote>
<p>Okie doke. Whatever works. Or doesn't. Or might. Or might not. Whatever the outcome, hopefully it'll be more than a goal - Brian Elliott'd appreciate some help once in a while.</p>
<p>This is your GameDay Thread. Comment like you want the Blues to finish the season on a tear.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/2/2/10900716/gamethread-for-st-louis-blues-at-nashville-predators-feb-2-2016hildymac2016-02-02T12:00:03-06:002016-02-02T12:00:03-06:00Stand By Your Man: Blues At Nashville Predators Preview
<figure>
<img alt="Waaahoooo!!!! Coach said he had quarters for the horsey ride out front!!!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fsFPXKgrRBgE0OmuMnfd0poCWJ0=/0x194:1617x1272/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48704601/usa-today-9024603.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Waaahoooo!!!! Coach said he had quarters for the horsey ride out front!!! | Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Blues come off their ASG break to face Smashville</p> <p>What a FANTASTIC All-Star break for the NHL, the fans, and in particular one <span>John Scott</span> . With all of the strife and conflict within the online hockey fan community, it was absolutely refreshing to see everyone celebrate at the same time. I haven't seen everyone pulling for the same thing since the lockout ended. Of course, it wasn't always going to be that way. The NHL had several opportunities to foul that up, but in the end they stood by their player and allowed him to be the centerpiece to the most popular All Star Game in recent memory.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>You'll have bad times, and he'll have good times</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center; background-color: #ccccdd;"><span>Doin' things that you don't understand</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>But that's all over now. Now, it's back to work.</p>
<p>It started with a vigorous practice on Monday, skating the players for about an hour and a half. The most notable presences were <span>Magnus Paajarvi</span> returning from injury and <span>Jaden Schwartz</span> skating in his first practice with the other players. We know <span>Steve Ott</span> is going to be out a while yet, and <span>Jake Allen</span> is still a question mark (though not considered long-term), but the team is about to be as healthy as it's been all year. Once the team adjusts to this rare burst of health, the focus will then become on what to do at the trade deadline. Of course, the name that is out there (again/still) is <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span> . Admittedly, he is the most movable defenseman with the best chance of high return value, but I really hope it doesn't come to that. Army, please please please stand by Shatty and keep him on the team.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>And if you love him, oh be proud of him</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> come into tonight's game flush from a hugely successful All Star Game. As hosts, there have been plenty of kudos sent to the Nashville organization for what was accomplished there. They'll certainly want to harness that energy for this game and the rest of the season. They come into this match on a 4-game winning streak, which lifted them to a .500 record on the road. Now they come home, and they've been very good there: a 13-7-3 record at the Bridgestone Arena. A big part of that turnaround has been "All Star" goalie <span>Pekka Rinne</span> . Overall this season, he's posted a very mundane .906 Save Percentage, but that may be turning around. In this current winning streak, Rinne started 3 out of the 4 games and posted a .963 Sv%. If he's heating up, he's going to be awfully hard to beat tonight. Not impossible, though.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>'Cause after all he's just a man.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Since our last meeting, the Preds have made a few moves. Most were for their AHL roster, but the big one was sending <span>Seth Jones</span> to Columbus in exchange for <span>Ryan Johansen</span> . Much like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a>, the Preds had depth on D that they flipped for help up front (and it sounds like the Blues were in the mix for RyJo also). We'll see a different look from the Preds' forward corps tonight.</p>
<p>For the Blues, it will of course be <span>Brian Elliott</span> in net, but now with <span>Pheonix Copley</span> riding the pine behind him. He and <span>Ty Rattie</span> were just called up to join the team. Magnus should be in the lineup, but Schwartz is probably a few days off yet. But soon... very soon.</p>
<p><b>Further Reading:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ontheforecheck.com/">On the Forecheck</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://thepredatorial.com/">The Predatorial</a></p>
<p><span>Blues vs Predators coverage</span></p>
<p><b>GameDay Twitter Feed</b></p>
<p><a data-widget-id="516033528023105536" href="https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday" class="twitter-timeline">Tweets from https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script>
</p>
<p><b>Final Verse:</b> The Blues begin the second half of the season at 7:00 PM tonight St Louis time. The GDT should drop shortly before the puck does. The TV broadcast is on FoxSportsMW, and the radio call will be on KMOX 1120 AM. NOTE: if you are a Gamecenter Live user, you might want to start a little sooner than usual. NHL.com has been redesigned, and you'll probably need a moment to adjust and make sure everything's working. Speaking of working, who would've thought that the Blues Brothers would be able to cover a country (or is it western) song so well?</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Psm96Dn9KII" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe></p>
<p>LGB!!!</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/2/2/10891858/stand-by-your-man-blues-at-nashville-predators-previewCrossCheckRaise2016-02-02T08:20:02-06:002016-02-02T08:20:02-06:00Blues At Predators Morning Open Thread: Break's Over
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1IeCRWyFEgVSMtcBrpw5wZOAxOI=/0x6:2472x1654/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48707215/usa-today-8909617.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Vladimir Tarasenko got to spend an extra day in Nashville, waiting on the Blues. Will they show up?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> just concluded a weekend of All Star festivities. The party's over, and the break may have thrown off the Preds' winning ways. They've won four in a row, though to be honest the opponents they've beaten on the road leading up to the break weren't difficult: Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Calgary. Those four teams don't strike fear in the hearts of many.</p>
<p>But two points are two points. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> before the break, in contrast to the Preds, were 1-1-1. They scored a whopping three goals; goal support would've given <span>Brian Elliott</span> a 3-0 record heading into the week off. A few goals would help Elliott and the Blues beat the Predators for the fourth time this season. Over the break, the coaching staff had more than enough time to evaluate the lines and make changes as needed to boost scoring.</p>
<p>The team's had a week to rest up and get healthy. The "we're tired" excuse is out of the window. Let's see if they can make a push for home ice advantage starting tonight.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back later on for some Road Music thanks to CCR, and your game preview. While you're waiting, head over to the fine folks at <a href="http://www.ontheforecheck.com/">On the Forecheck</a>, say hi, and be sure to read their ASG coverage. They were hospitable hosts this weekend - wish them a speedy recovery.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/2/2/10893618/blues-at-predators-morning-open-thread-breaks-overhildymac