• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
St Louis Blues

Blues Prepare for Predators Double Feature

By Stephen Ground February 9th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The St. Louis Blues are back in a playoff spot for the first time this season. In a turnaround that’s gaining national attention, the Blues have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and have won four in a row for the first time all season.

Those good feelings will only carry them so far, though, as they prepare for a critical weekend series with the Nashville Predators. The Predators are just behind the Winnipeg Jets atop the division, and are 15 points ahead of St. Louis, with a record of 33-19-4.

It will be a difficult test for the Blues, to be sure, but if they can perform well against the Predators, it should quell any lingering doubt that this turnaround isn’t real. Here are a few of the critical storylines entering the weekend.

How Will Allen Perform?

The back-to-back games likely means that Blues fans will see Jake Allen in net once again. The longtime St. Louis netminder, who lost his job decisively to Jordan Binnington, will be making his first start since Jan. 17, a 5-2 loss against the Boston Bruins.

Jake Allen

Jake Allen will be making his first start since Jan. 17 this weekend (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Allen’s season, which started abysmally, looked to be on the upswing until a ghastly January. In that month, one that has plagued him throughout his career, Allen was just 2-3, with an .874 save percentage. That, coupled with the red hot arrival of Binnington, convinced the Blues to make a seemingly-permanent change in goal.

Now, Allen will be forced into action, and it won’t be an easy test. He’ll be facing a Nashville squad that scores 3.1 goals-per-game on average, and is fifth in the league in goal differential. The Blues will need Allen to keep them in a matchup in which scoring will be at a premium.

It remains to be seen whether Allen will be up to the test, but if he proves that he is, perhaps he’ll see a few more starts going forward. If not, the Blues will likely call upon him as little as possible in the tight playoff race of the remaining few months.

Gunnarsson Out, Perron Possibly Back

More bad news came for the Blues in the form of yet another Carl Gunnarsson injury. The veteran Swedish defenseman has shown himself incapable of staying healthy in his tenure with the Blues. Since debuting with the team in 2014-15, he has played just 71 percent of all possible games, and he is now on the shelf once again. St. Louis have recalled Chris Butler from the San Antonio Rampage, presumably to provide relief for the injured Swede.

It’s a particularly difficult loss, as Gunnarsson is actually having an excellent season when healthy. He has three points in his last four games, is a plus-11 in just 18 appearances this season, and most impressively, is second in the league only to Erik Karlsson in expected goal (xG) differential.

In better news, the Blues may be getting a forward back this weekend. David Perron, who has been out for a few weeks with an undisclosed upper-body injury, is skating again and is expected to be close to a return. It’s especially good news, as Perron was white hot before his injury.

St. Louis Blues David Perron

St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron hit the injured reserve on a 13-game point streak (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

When Perron hit injured reserve, he was on a 13-game point streak, which was a personal best and led active streaks, as well. On the season, he has 35 points in 45 games, and has been worth every bit of the investment the Blues made in him in the offseason.

Perron will rejoin an offense that is much hotter than it was when he left, as they’ve scored three goals or more in five of their last six games (the exception being the 1-0 overtime defeat of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday). A healthy Perron would be a huge boon for the Blues as they fight to hold onto a playoff spot.

Who Will Step Up?

There’s no doubt about the gravity of the weekend series for the Blues. The only question remaining is who will step up? The Blues need someone to stand tall and help them win at least one game against Nashville on the weekend. Will there be another low-scoring thriller like their victory over the Lightning? Or will one or both of the games be a blowout, like the last two meetings between these two teams?

Only time will answer these questions, but the Blues know how important this series is. It’s an opportunity to prove that their turnaround is for real, and confidently label themselves playoff contenders.

  • Tags
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 17th 6:35 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Hope Early Start Leads to Bounce Back

Jan 17th 5:50 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Loss Can’t Be Pinned on Sorokin Entirely

Jan 17th 5:15 PM
Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings: Zadina’s Start Sparks the Imagination

Jan 17th 5:05 PM
Archives

Jacques Plante: The Man in the Fiberglass Mask

Jan 17th 4:25 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Make Tough Decision in Waiving Spezza and Dell

Jan 17th 4:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton’s First Maple Leafs’ Goal: Just a Little Trickery Out There

Jan 17th 3:55 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Winter 2021 Prospect Pyramid

Jan 17th 3:40 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: White, Batherson, Stützle & More

Jan 17th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

First-Year Islanders Shocked Big, Bad Bruins 48 Years Ago

Jan 17th 2:55 PM
Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens, Flyers, Red Wings, More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information