Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues look to build winning momentum – NHL Preview
St. Louis Blues have already qualified for the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs and Nashville Predators are also expected to do the same.
When qualifying for the playoffs is not a cause of concern, both teams should focus on maintaining consistency as it will certainly help them in the postseason.
With six games left for each team to play, Blues and Predators are going to face each other on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Scottrade Center, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Blues
They are leading the Western Conference with 103 points after 76 games.
Out of the last six games, Blues have lost four. In their last game, Blues defeated Phoenix Coyotes to snap their two-game skid.
Coyotes were completely helpless as Blues scored a goal in the second period and added three in the final while their goaltender, Brian Elliott, earned a shutout.
Jaroslav Halak, the other goaltender for Blues, is also in top form and coach, Ken Hitchcock, seems satisfied with the presence of both players. He said after Elliott got the shutout:
"It's been this way all season. One gets hot, cools off and then the other one gets hot. Halak was going good about 2½ weeks and now it's Brian. It's a great situation."
Predators
They are ranked at fifth spot in the Western Conference with 96 points after 76 games.
Out of the last seven games, Predators have lost four and are presently on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against Winnipeg Jets (3-1) and Chicago Blackhawks (6-1).
Against Blackhawks, Predators got two goals in the first period and increased the lead in the second. They had scored four goals before Blackhawks got their only scoring move of the game. Predators got two more goals after Blackhawks’ score.
Predators’ coach, Barry Trotz, said after the game:
"I liked our response to anything that happened in the game. We got good efforts from everybody, from the goal out, we really did. The overall playoff picture probably doesn't really matter to me right now. The most important thing is we're going to focus
on ourselves. We can't worry about anything else."
Predictions
Predators can be favoured.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Blues win, the winning margin will be two or more goals.
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