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.
–Field Level Media
