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Tarasenko Shines As Blues Beat Predators 4-3 - Sobotka On IR |
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The St. Louis Blues entered the night, looking to rebound from a tough loss against Carolina, and they did just that.
The Blues were on the ball early tonight, unloading 14 shots in the first period, compared to the eight by Nashville. They were moving their feet, battling hard in the corners, and really digging hard in front of the net.
The Blues got the first powerplay of the night, when the Predators best penalty killer, Shea Weber, went off for high sticking Max Lapierre. Their powerplay was visibly better tonight compared to last night's game and it showed up on the scoreboard as well.
Vladimir Tarasenko dished the puck to Chris Stewart behind the Blues goal, who made a terrific pass out front to Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz had nearly no room, yet found a hole behind Predators goalie, Carter Hutton, and the Blues went on top 1-0.
The first period ended with the Blues leading 1-0 and you could see the jump they had on Nashville early.
The Blues went on a powerplay early in the second period and controlled the play in the offensive zone for nearly the entire powerplay. They wouldn't register a powerplay goal, but their possession game in the Predators zone would allow David Backes to give the Blues a 2-0 lead, just seven seconds after the powerplay expired. Backes tipped a point shot from Jay Bouwmeester and it found it's way past Hutton and into the net. Derek Roy would register an assist on the play as well.
The Blues missed on a few different scoring opportunities that would have given them a commanding 3-0 lead in the game, but it was a stingy Nashville team, and an atrocious give away, that would put Nashville on the board.
Ian Cole was digging on the Blues corner with Predators forward Colton Scissons with under four minutes remaining in the period. Cole would win the battle and try to feed Bouwmeester behind the net. Unfortunately for Cole, the puck would bounce in front of the goal and Paul Gaustad was the only player in front, who fired it past Elliott to make it a 2-1 game. The period would end with the same score.
The third period was Nashville's time to put the pedal to the metal and control most of the play. Mike Fisher scored from Patric Hornqvist and Eric Nystrom just 3:25 into the third to tie the game, then Roman Josi gave the Predators a 3-2 lead four minutes later. David Legwand and Craig Smith registered assists on the Josi goal.
Nashville's only lead of the night lasted only 16 seconds. It was Vladimir Tarasenko who carried the puck into the offensive zone, cut to the middle of the ice, and rifled a shot high glove side on Hutton. This was Tarasenko's 17th point in his last 17 games (7 goals, 10 assists). Alex Pietrangelo and Blues goalie Brian Elliott would register the assists on the game tying goal.
After nothing was solved in regulation and then again in overtime, it would take a shootout to decide the game.
T.J. Oshie scored the first goal, stutter-stepping on Hutton and snapping a shot through the five-hole to give the Blues the lead. Taylor Beck was then stopped by Brian Elliott.
Alexander Steen shot second for the Blues and tried going five-hole on Hutton but he would be denied. Ryan Ellis then tied it for Nashville on a gorgeous forehand-backhand move.
Both Kevin Shattenkirk and Roman Josi would fail to score in the third round and we'd have to go to the extra shooters.
Vladimir Tarasenko would score the game winning goal as he stutter-stepped on Hutton and fired one stick side. Mattias Ekholm was poke checked by Elliott and the Blues would get the hard earned win.
The Blues have moved back into a tie with the Chicago Blackhawks with 79 points, yet Chicago does play the Sharks tonight in San Jose.
Bad News Blues
The Blues will be without Vladimir Sobotka for at least the next four weeks, as the Czech forward broke his knee cap late in the game against Carolina. Sobotka's injury will knock the hard-nosed forward out of the Olympics.
Sobotka will be re-evaluated in four weeks and hopefully at that point he will be able to start skating again and join the team.
With Sobotka's injury, Derek Roy was moved up to the second line, centering Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Schwartz-Roy-Tarasenko line was dominant tonight against the Predators and as a result, were all three the stars of the game tonight.
The third star went to Derek Roy, the second star was Jaden Schwartz, and the first was given to Vladimir Tarasenko.
The Blues are off the next two nights and will play the Ottawa Senators, Tuesday at the Scottrade Center.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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