Arch Authority
Fansided

St. Louis Blues Return from All-Star Break with Tuesday Visit to Nashville Predators

By Patrick Karraker

Jan 30, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Central Division forward Vladimir Tarasenko (91) of the St. Louis Blues and Central Division forward James Neal (16) of the Nashville Predators react during the 2016 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Central Division forward Vladimir Tarasenko (91) of the St. Louis Blues and Central Division forward James Neal (16) of the Nashville Predators react during the 2016 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
twitterfacebookreddit

The St. Louis Blues will return from an eight-day All-Star break layoff Tuesday, finishing a swing of four straight road games with a visit to Nashville.

The St. Louis Blues return from their extended All-Star vacation on Tuesday evening, facing the division rival Nashville Predators as they prepare for the 30-game home stretch that will close out the season. The Blues, currently sitting in third place in the Central, will face a Predators team that is all the way back in fifth in the division but would hold the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today.

Nashville went on a fantastic run at the end of January, winning five of their last six and four straight prior to the break. Despite that recent success, they have yet to defeat the Blues this season and have been outscored 10-4 in the teams’ three meetings this season. The closest the Preds came to victory was during the teams’ last meeting on December 29, when the Blues won 4-3 in overtime.

More from Arch Authority

Tuesday’s game will be the penultimate meeting between the Blues and Predators this season; they’ll play again on February 27 in Nashville.

—

The Blues won’t get the forward they’re missing most back on Tuesday, as Jaden Schwartz will miss at least one more game as he continues recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in October. They will, however, get back winger Magnus Paajarvi, who has missed the past seven games with a facial injury. It remains to be seen whether Paajarvi, who was held pointless in his most recent nine games prior to the injury, will retain his lineup spot after Schwartz returns. At least for Tuesday, though, he’s expected to reunite with former linemates Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko, who propelled him to his greatest success as they were grouped together in December.

Unsurprisingly, Brian Elliott will be back in net against Nashville. Though Elliott’s new backup, Pheonix Copley, is likely better-equipped to make an emergency start than his predecessor, Jordan Binnington, was, Elliott is still expected to start every game until Jake Allen returns.

Next: 5 Blues with Something to Prove After the Break

Here’s how the Blues’ lineup is expected to look on Tuesday:

Magnus Paajarvi-Paul Stastny-Vladmir Tarasenko

Alexander Steen-David Backes–Patrik Berglund

Robby Fabbri–Jori Lehtera–Troy Brouwer

Scottie Upshall–Kyle Brodziak–Dmitrij Jaskin

Jay Bouwmeester–Alex Pietrangelo

Joel Edmundson–Kevin Shattenkirk

Carl Gunnarsson–Colton Parayko

Brian Elliott

Home/St. Louis Blues