3 Takeaways From Blues’ 5-2 Loss to Predators

The St. Louis Blues concluded their three-game road trip on Saturday. Unfortunately, they couldn’t end on a high note, falling to the Nashville Predators, 5-2. The Blues end the road trip with a 1-2-0 record, despite outscoring their opponents, 13-12.

Here are a few takeaways from a frustrating night in Music City.

Takeaway #1: 11 Forwards and 7 Defensemen Did Not Work

Because forward Ross Johnston was injured, head coach Jim Montgomery had to make a lineup change. Instead of replacing Johnston with another forward, such as Zachary Dean, Montgomery put defenseman Theo Lindstein back in the lineup, going with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

This lineup decision isn’t the only reason the Blues lost (wait, I will get to the big one), but I don’t think it helped. The Blues’ defense has played well overall at the start of the season. Adam Jiricek has looked good. Cam Fowler has been skating with confidence. Justin Barron has been a surprisingly strong presence on the ice.

Adding a seventh defenseman messed up the pairings’ chemistry. The pairs kept needing to be switched up to give all seven playing time. For a team with two young defensemen (Jiricek and Lindstein), constantly switching up the pairings could hurt chemistry.

I understand why Montgomery made this decision. This got Lindstein back in the lineup, which needed to happen sooner rather than later. However, this approach didn’t work. Of course, if Montgomery wants Lindstein in the lineup on Tuesday, it will be hard to sit a defenseman.

Takeaway #2: The “Sour” Play

If the option were available, the Blues may have benefited from declining the power play. The unit went 1-for-5. However, they only recorded three shots in those five power plays. The Predators, meanwhile, recorded eight shorthanded shots and scored in the second period.

This was the Blues’ worst power-play performance in quite some time. Going 1-for-5 is one thing. Only generating three shots is one thing. Allowing eight short-handed shots? Problematic.

What makes these power-play issues even more frustrating is that the organization brought in Vinny Prospal to help improve the power play this season. There is still plenty of time left in the season, so we should give Prospal time to fix things, but Saturday’s performance was certainly a memory Blues fans would willingly trade to Batiba, the memory-stealing demon from Forgotten Island.

Takeaway #3: Ryan O’Reilly Still Has It

Even at 35, Ryan O’Reilly is still playing at an elite level. The former Blue was all over the ice. He defended the net on one side and created offense on the other. The 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner led the Preds’ forwards in ice time, scored a goal, and finished with a plus-3 rating.

O’Reilly may be on a division rival, but it’s still great to see him keep playing so well. Of course, he does not have to score so much against his former team. Saturday marked his sixth goal against St. Louis since he was traded from the Blues.

Stick Taps

I will give a stick tap to Mason McTavish. The forward recorded an assist, extending his point streak to six games. On a night when little went right, it was nice to see the center keep showing up on the score card.

Next Game

The Blues return to Enterprise Center to start a five-game homestand. The first game of that stretch will be another division matchup, this time with the Winnipeg Jets.

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