SB Nation St. Louis - Nashville Predators At St. Louis Blues: Blues' Scoring Woes Continue, Drop Game 2-1 In Shootouthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2011-12-30T21:57:42-06:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24351052011-12-30T21:57:42-06:002011-12-30T21:57:42-06:00Nashville Predators At St. Louis Blues Final Score: Rinne, Preds Win 2-1 In Another Shootout
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<p>The last time this happened, we saw a very unhappy Jaroslav Halak skate off to the locker room. Tonight, well, FoxSports Midwest was nice enough to not show it if it happened again – though no one could judge Halak if he was upset. He allowed one goal in the first two and a half minutes, and then was perfect through the rest of the game until Martin Erat’s top-shelf goal ended it in the shootout.</p>
<p>This is the second game in a row where the Blues have fired a cannonade on Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Tonight, the Blues scored once on 36 shots – to get past him they possibly literally would to have fired a cannonball at the net. When Rinne gets into the zone, there’s no scoring on him. Even the easy tap in goals seemed to just flat-out refuse to go in.</p>
<p>The Blues are just 1-for-17 on shootout attempts this season, and haven’t won in their last five. When you have a goalie finish a game with a .971 SV% and they lose, the blame’s on you, not on them. The Blues <span class="caps">HAVE</span> to learn how to score more during games – it’s not all the first line’s responsibility. Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund are goal scorers too. It’s time to get them off of the sides of their respective milk cartons and back into the game.</p>
<p>Tomorrow night is a chance for the Blues to regain their lead on the Detroit Red Wings. Squandered opportunities won’t be tolerated by the coach anymore, if they even were to begin with.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2011/12/30/2671905/nashville-predators-at-st-louis-blues-final-score-rinne-preds-win-2-1Laura Astorian2011-12-30T20:47:10-06:002011-12-30T20:47:10-06:00Nashville Predators At St. Louis Blues: Blues Waste Two Power Play Chances; Score Still Tied 1-1
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<p>The Blues power play appears to be back on track, if back on track means back to how it was before the last two games. Following up two games in which they scored two power play goals in each, the Blues are 0-for-3 tonight. Granted, yes, it has improved their shots on goal totals (the Blues are now leading in that category, 25-24), but you don’t win thanks to <span class="caps">SOG</span>. You win when one of those go in.</p>
<p>Patrik Berglund has had several solid looks at the net, but has developed Brad Boyes-itis, missing the net and gripping the stick a bit too tight. When Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne can’t hold on to his stick (he’s dropped it four times, according to Darren Pang), it’s helpful to notice these things and get some shots on the net.</p>
<p>David Backes again has taken this team by the collar ad is single-handedly trying to win by himself. I follow several Preds bloggers and reporters on Twitter, and so many of them are commenting more on Backes’ play than their own team’s. He’s plowing over the Preds’ rookie defensemen, and while credited with only two shots on goal he’s had more than that go in the general direction of Rinne.</p>
<p>The goaltending duel continues, though Rinne seems more confident in net. As I mentioned earlier on Twitter, a hundred pucks could go in his direction, and when he’s in full zen-mode, he will stop every single one.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2011/12/30/2671779/nashville-predators-at-st-louis-blues-score-two-power-play-chancesLaura Astorian2011-12-30T19:56:18-06:002011-12-30T19:56:18-06:00Nashville Predators At St. Louis Blues First Period Score: Oshie's Goal Sends Blues Into Intermission Tied 1-1
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<p>Not the best start to a home game tonight. Just two minutes and sixteen seconds into the game, Matt Halischuk capitalized on a flub-up du jour by Jaroslav Halak. Common knowledge is that you cover the puck when it’s loose in your crease; Halak, however, couldn’t get over to the puck and get into position to cover. Some jamming, and in squeaks the puck.</p>
<p>David Legwand almost made it 2-0 Preds, had is coordination been hand-eye instead of hand-foot. Luckily his soccer-style goal was an obvious mid-air kick, which at least gave the Blues a chance to tie the game. They did, with a T.J. Oshie goal. Out for two games, Oshie really wants to make an impression on the team and the nice people in charge of next year’s contract. Oshie snapped a pass from David Backes past Pekka Rinne to tie the game up.</p>
<p>Shots so far are 14-11 Nashville. There hasn’t been any dominating zone control by the Blues; expect that to be addressed during the intermission by coach Ken Hitchcock.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2011/12/30/2671701/nashville-predators-at-st-louis-blues-first-period-score-oshies-goalLaura Astorian2011-12-30T14:01:47-06:002011-12-30T14:01:47-06:00Nashville Predators At St. Louis Blues: Oshie, Sobotka Return; Steen Sits
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<p>Who here likes a goalie duel? Pekka Rinne and Jaroslav Halak shouldn't disappoint, while both teams are fighting for prime positioning in the standings.</p> <p>It's a common occurrence with the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a>. Someone gets into playing shame, and someone else falls. Tuesday night it appeared that <a target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2011/12/29/2669350/blues-defenseman-kris-russell-out-for-three-weeks-par-meet-course">Kris Russell was the latest sacrificial lamb for the Blues,</a> injuring himself in the first period of the game against the <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Red Wings</a>. His loss helped the team crumble as the game went on, falling 3-2 to the Red Menace.</p>
<p><span>Alexander Steen</span>, though, seems to have felt left out, as he will be sitting tonight and tomorrow with concussion-like symptoms, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/lkorac10/status/152810189731532801">as per Louie Korac</a>. With Steen out, thankfully <span>T.J. Oshie</span> will be able to work his way back into the lineup tonight, as will spark-plug <span>Vladimir Sobotka</span>. <span>Jamie Langenbrunner</span> will be <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/st_louis_blues/status/152807747153436672">making his return as well, now recovered from the flu</a>. And, in unexpected good news, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/lkorac10/status/152809107034873858">Andy McDonald's recovery seems to be chugging along, though there's no timetable yet for his return</a>. A fully healthy Blues team with Russell, Steen, McDonald, Langenbrunner, Oshie, and Sobotka? Scary. For now, the return of the last three of those guys marks at least a return to intimidation.</p>
<p>Tonight's team is drastically different than Tuesday's, and they're playing a drastically different team: the <a href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nashville Predators</a>. The Preds are stingy, and when the Blues and Nashville square off, it's never a high-scoring blowout affair. The last time these two teams met, both Nashville's goaltender <span>Pekka Rinne</span> and St. Louis' <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> each allowed just one regulation goal in the third period before the Preds won 2-1 in a shootout. Each goalie has a GAA under 2.00 against their opposition. Like most Central Division match-ups, it's tough fought hockey. It might be tougher than usual because the Predators are just four points behind the third place Blues. The two teams fall 6th and 7th in the West.</p>
<p>There might be some scoreboard watching in St. Louis tonight, since the Red Wings are in Chicago, and still sit just a point ahead of the Blues thanks to Tuesday's game. The see-saw between the teams will probably continue throughout the end of the season, but what better way to ring in the New Year tomorrow night by being three points up on Detroit? When the team's resolution is to make the playoffs, that'd be a great start.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2011/12/30/2671015/nashville-predators-at-st-louis-blues-oshie-sobotka-return-steen-sitsLaura Astorian