NHLBAM2_26NSHvsSTLPreview2

Less than 24 hours after topping the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout, the Nashville Predators will finish of the second half of their back-to-back set with a date in St. Louis against the Blues. It's the fifth and final meeting of the regular season between the two clubs with the Preds in search of their second win over St. Louis.
The Predators were able to get back in the win column against the Oilers last night just hours after playing an active role at the NHL Trade Deadline.
First, Nashville acquired forward Mikael Granlund from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Kevin Fiala; then, the Preds sent Ryan Hartman and a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft to Philadelphia for power forward Wayne Simmonds.
\[Read More: Wayne Simmonds Ready to be 'Kamikaze in Front of the Net'\]
\[Watch Video: Wayne Simmonds Expected to Make Preds Debut\]

Granlund's fiancée is in the process of giving birth to their first child, so while the Finn isn't likely to be in the lineup tonight, Simmonds is expected to dress for Nashville this evening.
Simmonds will look to help the Preds avenge three consecutive losses to the Blues, including two back-to-back defeats earlier this month.

Preds take over first in Central with SO win

Last Time Out:
Colton Sissons and P.K. Subban scored for the Predators in regulation before Filip Forsberg and Brian Boyle tallied in the shootout to collect a 3-2 win over Edmonton. Goaltender Pekka Rinne stopped three of four shooters he faced in the shootout to earn the victory.
Ryan Johansen continues to lead the club with 53 points, followed by Roman Josi with 51 and Mattias Ekholm with 41. Viktor Arvidsson has 26 goals on the season, followed by Filip Forsberg with 21. Granlund's 49 points on the season would slot him third on the team in scoring; Simmonds has 16 goals and 27 points on the campaign.
The Opposition:
The Blues recently saw an 11-game win streak come to an end and have now dropped two of their last three, including a 2-1 overtime loss on Sunday to Minnesota. Ryan O'Reilly is tops on the team with 63 points, followed by Vladimir Tarasenko with 53 points. Tarasenko has 27 goals, while O'Reilly has 24. Jordan Binnington has been stellar in net for the Blues posting a 14-2-1 record with a .934 save percentage.
St. Louis recently placed forward Brayden Schenn on Injured Reserve, and they acquired former Preds defenseman Michael Del Zotto on Monday prior to the Trade Deadline.

Wayne Simmonds discusses joining the Preds

All-Time Meetings:
The Predators are 54-43-(4)-12 all-time against the Blues, including a 24-26-(1)-5 record at the Enterprise Center. Nashville has won seven of its last 11 games against St. Louis - including five of its last eight - and has scored at least four goals in five of those wins.
Notables Versus St. Louis:
Filip Forsberg recorded a career-high four points (3g-1a) and tallied one of his six career hat tricks on Feb. 27, 2016 versus St. Louis. He has 24 points (12g-12a) in 24 career games against the Blues, including points in eight of his last 10 contests against them.
Roman Josi has 21 points (5g-16a) in 35 career meetings with the Blues, while Ryan Johansen is on a three-game point streak against St. Louis, recording a goal and three assists.

Wayne Simmonds meets new Preds teammates

Watch & Listen:
Coverage for tonight's contest begins with Predators Live on Fox Sports Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Willy Daunic, Chris Mason and Lyndsay Rowley have the call on the television side, while Pete Weber and Hal Gill will broadcast on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network. For broadcast information and channel locations throughout the country,
click here
.
If the Predators are playing hockey, you can count on the game being on at Preds Approved Bars & Restaurants. Locations throughout Tennessee may be seen by
clicking here
.
Tonight's Preds Official Watch Party takes place at Buffalo Wild Wings in Hendersonville.
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for more information.
Streaming Info:
Listen to a Live Radio Feed
(only active during the game broadcast window).
Watch a Live Stream of the game
on the Fox Sports App or
Watch on NHL.TV