BLUES It was an eventful night for the St. Louis Blues at Mullett Arena on Wednesday. 11 goals were scored and the lead changed five times, but the Blues held their resolve to earn a 6-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Brandon Saad's two points led the Blues, and Joel Hofer stopped all 12 shots faced in relief.
The thrilling win gave the Blues a 2-2-0 record on their road trip, a positive outcome after two 5-1 losses to begin with.
"Obviously it wasn't the best game for us, but we found a way to get the W," said Alexey Toropchenko. "It's always good to have a win, but we will have to watch some video after (Thanksgiving) and clean some things up."
Toropchenko scored a shorthanded goal to take a 4-3 lead in the second period, just 33 seconds after Nick Leddy's shorthanded goal to tie the game. Despite playing the fewest shorthanded minutes in the NHL this season, the Blues share the League lead with six shorthanded goals. They are already one shy of the seven they scored throughout all of last season.
The Blues return home for Thanksgiving, hosting Ryan O'Reilly and the Nashville Predators before heading up to Chicago and Minnesota for four consecutive divisional battles.
They'll face the Predators with a record of 10-7-1, worth 21 points and fourth place in the Central.
PREDATORS After missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years, the Nashville Predators will need to improve their consistency to get back into the postseason. Their offseason was highlighted by the acquisition of veterans Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist, hoping that their contributions can help longtime Predators Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi remain competitive in the Central Division.
The Predators are building momentum heading into Friday's afternoon matchup at Enterprise Center, having won their last three games directly after a four-game losing streak. The wins came at the end of a five-game homestand, Nashville scoring four goals each in wins over Chicago, Colorado and Calgary on Wednesday night.
O'Reilly scored his ninth goal of the season in the win over the Flames, sharing the team lead with Forsberg. The former Blues captain is off to a strong start with his new club, with 17 points in 18 games this season including a hat trick on Nov. 4 and an active five-game point streak. Nyquist has his own point streak going at six games, his 11 assists this year only trailing Forsberg for the team lead.
After Friday's game, the Predators return to Brigestone Arena for a four-game homestand. From Nov. 11 to Dec. 2, the Predators will have played nine out of 10 games at home.
They'll visit the Blues with a record of 8-10-0, worth 16 points and sixth in the Central Division.
HEAD TO HEAD The Blues went 2-2-0 against the Predators last season, both wins coming at Enterprise Center including a dramatic 1-0 overtime win. This is the first matchup between the division rivals this year, the season series continuing on Feb. 17 in St. Louis and April 4 in Nashville.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Brayden Schenn, whose breakaway goal on Wednesday night earned him the 600th point of his NHL career. Schenn has 24 points in 29 career games against the Predators, including the overtime winner in the 1-0 victory at Enterprise Center last year.
PREDATORS Ryan O'Reilly, playing his first game back at Enterprise Center since his trade from the Blues last season. O'Reilly, the 2019 Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the Blues' Stanley Cup Championship playoff run, recorded 269 points in 327 games in the Blue Note.
BLUE NOTES
After Wednesday's win in Arizona, the Blues possess the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Over the last eight full seasons, 76.5% teams in a playoff position as of Thanksgiving hold on to reach the postseason
The Blues' franchise record for shorthanded goals in a season is 21, set back in 1975-76. At six shorthanded goals through 18 games, the Blues are currently on pace for 27 this year
The Blues are 5-5-2 in their last 12 matchups against the Predators at a balanced zero-goal differential.
After playing the first 17 games of the year without a single lead change for or against them, the lead changed five different times in the Blues' win over Arizona on Wednesday
Blues make quick home stop to face Predators, Ryan O'Reilly
The St. Louis Blues are navigating a difficult 13-game stretch featuring 10 games on the road.
In a rare chance to visit their home rink, the Blues face the Nashville Predators on Friday before heading back out on the road.
The Blues went 2-2 on a western swing, capping it Wednesday with a free-wheeling 6-5 victory at Arizona.
"It wasn't the best game for us, from everyone," said winger Alexey Toropchenko, who has scored a goal in his last two games after scoring just two in his first 16. "We found a way and got the W. It's always good to have a win, but we will watch some video, clean up some things and we'll go from that."
St. Louis celebrated U.S. Thanksgiving in a Western Conference playoff slot with a 10-7-1 record.
"When you're in the grind, you just kind of put your head down and worry a day at a time," Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. "I think that's more of a manager-type of question. For us, we're here day to day. We're trying to get better as a team. We're trying to tighten up as a team.
"The league's such a grind right now. There's really just two or three dominant teams and everyone else is in a dogfight. Every game is so important. I don't think we look at it and say, 'This is where we are at Thanksgiving.' "
St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington has been pulled midway through two of his last three starts. Backup Joel Hofer has won his last two appearances, one a start and one in relief, while stopping 42 of 43 shots.
After a four-game losing streak, the Predators finally have gained traction with a season-best three-game winning streak.
They come to St. Louis on the heels of their 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at home.
"I think we were relentless," Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier said. "We had more confidence with the puck as well, making some plays and taking care of the puck. I think we had a few turnovers in the first, (but) we got going after that. I think we looked good with the puck, and hopefully we can build on that."
Former Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly has two goals and four assists for the Predators during his five-game point streak. Friday will mark his first game back in St. Louis since the Blues traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.
He joined the Predators as a free agent during the summer.
"I'm excited," O'Reilly said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think it'll be cool to be back. It's always very weird. I think playing in these games, you have so many good friends on the other team, guys you're still close with. It's not my first time around. I've been traded a few times and gone through it."
Predators goaltender Juuse Saros had a rough start to the season, but he has won his last two starts while lowering his goals-against average to 3.13 and improving his save percentage to .894.
Nashville will play without forward Cody Glass, who is sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Blues, who are at full strength, scratched winger Jakub Vrana in Arizona. That was the third time he has been a healthy scratch this season.
