SB Nation St. Louis - Blues At Predators: Pekka Rinne Becoming A Thorn In Blues' Sideshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-02-23T15:03:10-06:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25837002012-02-23T15:03:10-06:002012-02-23T15:03:10-06:00Blues At Predators: Vladimir Sobotka Staying On Top Line
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<p>In Wednesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, Vladimir Sobotka started off the night on the top line with T. J. Oshie and David Backes. The loss of Jamie Langenbrunner’s forcing coach Ken Hitchcock to be creative with his lines, and you gotta say — plunking Sobe in on the top line’s pretty dang creative. Sobotka has just three goals and 17 points this season, but he makes up for it with something that Hitch appreciates: moxie.</p>
<p>In an interview with the Post-Dispatch’s Jeremy Rutherford, Hitchcock explains his unique line decision:</p>
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<p>“He’s one of those guys that’s an underrated player, kind of a glue guy for the hockey club. He fits the way we play. You’re trying to build a work ethic and you’re trying to build an edge to your game and he’s a tough little guy. I think where he helps us is that when we get in trouble injury-wise or we get down roster-wise, he’s a guy that can step up and short-term play up the lineup just like he is right now.”</p>
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<p>Last night’s experiment didn’t end well, but that was absolutely no fault of Sobotka’s — the game was just a bad one. Sobotka starting on to top line tonight — it’s assumed that he will — is another huge vote of confidence in the scrappy forward.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/2/23/2819884/blues-at-predators-vladimir-sobotka-staying-on-top-lineLaura Astorian2012-02-23T13:38:41-06:002012-02-23T13:38:41-06:00Blues At Predators: Pekka Rinne Becoming A Thorn In Blues' Sides
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<img alt="NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 04: B.J. Crombeen #26 of the St Louis Blues dumps the puck in against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on February 4, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TwaraIfl2ARVlH-0Sdj_zn-nSdw=/0x24:978x676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5460501/138273459.jpg" />
<figcaption>NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 04: B.J. Crombeen #26 of the St Louis Blues dumps the puck in against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on February 4, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>If you want to be successful in the NHL, and especially in the playoffs, teams need to learn how to beat constant rivals. Chances are good that the Preds and Blues meet up with each other in the first round, and the way that St. Louis has played against Nashville, the odds of surviving the first round could be slim.</p> <p>Wednesday night's loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> was the first time that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> lost a game in regulation at home since October. Unfortunately for them, we don't have to look that far back to see their last regulation road loss: Sunday, at Chicago. Their road record leaves quite a bit to be desired. Instead of just the four regulation losses that the Blues have at home, they have 13 on the road. They're a well below average 10-13-3 on the road. Sure, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a> are also below .500 on the road, but they have a pretty firm hold on the top spot in the conference. The Blues and tonight's opponent, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, are in the fourth and fifth slots in the conference, with just three points between them. A loss to the Preds tonight bring the Blues that much closer to losing the all-important home ice advantage.</p>
<p>The Blues hadn't allowed four goals since a 6-4 win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> way back on December 18th. Last night, a sloppy defense allowed a good scoring chances on Brian Elliott. Just because the Blues had more shots than their opponent again doesn't mean that they were all quality scoring chances -- against tonight's Nashville starter, <span>Pekka Rinne</span>, you better have quality scoring chances and you better not whiff on them. He's 4-0-0 against the Blues this year with a 1.85 GAA and a .937 SV%.</p>
<p>You also better have a good scoring chance on <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> to get a puck past him. Despite his outstanding stats this year, including six shutouts, he hasn't beat the Preds yet and has lost by one goal in two shootouts where he made an excessive number of saves for naught. He has a 1.69 GAA and a .933 SV%. He has a better GAA than the goalie that's undefeated -- that's how hard he's played, and that's how often the Blues've let him down.</p>
<p>Tonight's game, the second of a back to back, opens a six game stretch on the road for the Blues. St. Louis hasn't lost three games in a row in nearly two months, and now would not be the best time to try it again. The Preds are breathing down the Blues' neck, and a game against them at home is one of the most difficult things that the Blues have faced this season.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/2/23/2819496/blues-at-predators-pekka-rinne-becoming-a-thorn-in-blues-sidesLaura Astorian