Blues travel to Nashville for big matchup with Predators

NASHVILLE - If last week's divisional matchups against the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets were big, Tuesday's 7 p.m. game against the Nashville Predators might be bigger.
Nashville, who leads the Central Division with 75 points, will host the Blues for the first time this season at Bridgestone Arena.
The Blues, who sit third in the Central Division, are just four points behind the Predators.
Fans can follow the action on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO or KMOX 1120 AM. Coverage will also be available at stlouisblues.com and by using the NHL App.

#

THE MATCHUP

BLUES Too many mistakes in the third period cost the Blues their third consecutive victory Sunday and resulted in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scottrade Center.
Kyle Brodziak scored for the Blues and Jake Allen made 19 saves.
"I think we ran out of energy a little bit towards the end of the game," Blues forward Alexander Steen said. "They had a little bit more than us there, and caused some mistakes and some turnovers. We were obviously missing some good scoring chances and they had some big saves."
"They showed why they've won a couple Cups in the last couple years," Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said of the Penguins.

PREDATORS Pekka Rinne stole the show for Nashville on Saturday, making 47 saves in a 3-2 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens.
Rinne made 10 saves in overtime and improved to 9-0-1 in his last 10 starts.
"We need to play a lot better in front of him and there's definitely things that we can do better," Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette told NHL.com after the game. "But that didn't happen, so we relied on our goaltending and he was outstanding. He was incredible tonight."
Nashville is 4-0-2 in their last six games and 6-1-3 in their last 10.
Soon, the Predators could get former captain Mike Fisher back on the roster. Fisher retired after last season but recently announced that he would put his retirement on hold to rejoin the Predators for a playoff run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Predators have won both matchups between the teams this season, including a 2-1 win most recently on Dec. 27 at Scottrade Center.
The Blues have points in 11 of their last 17 trips to Nashville (10-6-1)

HOT VS. NASHVILLE

• Vladimir Tarasenko has five points in his last seven games (two goals, three assists)
  - Brayden Schenn has four points in his last seven games (one goal, three assists)
  - Jaden Schwartz has eight points in his last 12 games (three goals, five assists)
  - Alex Pietrangelo has seven points in his last 11 games (one goal, six assists)

BLUE NOTES

• Tarasenko will dress in his 400th career NHL game on Tuesday.
  - Carter Hutton spent three years with the Nashville Predators, posting a 33-23-12 record along with a .910 save-percentage and a 2.55 goals against average. In St. Louis, Hutton is 28-13-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .928 save-percentage.
  - Nashville leads the NHL with 40 goals from defensemen, while the Blues rank fourth in the League with 31.
  - The Blues have won four of their last five road games, allowing us six goals in that stretch (excludes empty-net goals).