Predators Hold Off Blues 2-1 in St. Louis

Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues - Game 39 Recap
Goal: Sobotka (7)
Record 23-14-2

My Thoughts on the game

• I went to this game and it's hard for me to manage my thoughts and get them into a blog format from an "in-person" game. It has taken me a while to watch it from the recording on my DVR, so I'm hoping the old phrase "Better late than never" holds true after you've read this post.
• I'll have to admit, in person I felt like Nashville looked like a much superior team.  Their crisp passing from tape to tape and disciplined style of play was impressive.  Once they had a 2 goal lead they really circled the wagons and were intent on not giving up an easy goal.
• However, after watching the game played back I'll have to say that it didn't seem like such a vast difference in these two teams in this game. 
• Yes, Schenn and Tarasenko who we expect to be our biggest offensive threats seemed to be non-factors offensively in this one, but the Blues had their chances. 
• Just :30 seconds into the game, Steen had a chance with an open net but couldn't connect. Vince Dunn hit the post on a shot that got past Rinne inside the first minute, but then the momentum swung the other direction as Scottie Upshall was called for interference at the 2:30 mark giving Nashville an early power play.
• Jake Allen made a diving stop on Nashville's first power play, throwing his stick and stretching out to stop the puck with outstretched arms. In fact, he made several good stops during one barrage early in the 2nd period where the Predators put 4 or 5 shots on goal in about 15 seconds. 
• St. Louis killed off the first penalty, as well as all 4 others in the game improving to 82.8%, good enough for a tie for 9th in the league on the penalty kill for the season and near the top for the month of December.
• Speaking of penalties, the double minor on Patrik Berglund for high sticking with 12 minutes left in the third period took away a lot of time that St. Louis needed in order to build up some offensive momentum late in the game. I thought it was definitely an important setback in this game. 
• Nashville struck first when Brayden Schenn, deep in the corner in the offensive zone attempted a centering pass but gave the puck away to a Predator out near the blue line. Nashville mounted an even-man rush on which the Blues defenders (Dunn and Parayko) did a nice job picking up their men, but Schenn who had hustled back to the other end, failed to keep his man tied up in front of the net. Roman Josi took the shot from the top of the circle and Craig Smith, who had slipped away from Schenn, managed to get his stick on the puck and tipped it straight down and past Jake Allen. Smith was just about 6 feet in front of the Blues goaltender who had no time to react. I think that goal was on Brayden from start to finish.
• As I mentioned earlier, the Blues had their chances. Magnus Paajarvi missed a chance right in front when the puck just wouldn't bounce our way.  He had a couple of pokes at it, but just couldn't get good wood on it and get it past Rinne who stopped 29 of St. Louis' 30 shots. Rinne was the #1 star in the game. 
• The Blues' best scoring chance came after a 2 on 1 rush by Nashville. Allen closed the door and the Blues counter-attacked. Kyle Brodziak found Joel Edmondson with a pass right in front of the net and Eddy found himself with a wide open net behind Rinne. It was a bang-bang play and he just couldn't get the right touch on the pass as it sailed a little wide instead of into the open net. Edmundson was in disbelief as he sat on the bench shaking his head afterwards, wondering what could have been and how he missed such a wide open net. 
• Tarasenko also made a nice play to set up Schenn with a great chance for a goal, but again the Nashville goalie managed to keep it out of the net.
• It looks to me like Tage Thompson is likely in the NHL for good after the way he has played the last few games.  Although he hasn't been on the score sheet in every game, he looks creative with the puck, he can get himself into places where he can shoot and has brought a little bit of life to the line with Steen and Stastny, who needed someone like him to give them a reason to step up their games a notch and help this kid score some goals. 
• It was a disappointing loss at home after the Christmas break, but was far from being a lopsided loss.  It could have gone the other way very easily. 
• Next up is the Blues' first trip into Dallas to face the Stars on Friday night. 

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB