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Two Point Night For Ian Cole Helps Blues Top The Predators |
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Ian Cole and Magnus Paajarvi score, and Ryan Miller stopped 20-of-21 shots as the Blues beat the Nashville Predators by a score of 2-1.
The Blues had a lot of jump early and forced the play in the offensive zone, right from the drop of the puck. They would get the early lead, as Ian Cole scored his third goal of the season, just four minutes into the period. Steve Ott won the faceoff back to Cole who found a hole by Pekka Rinne's glove. Ott registered the only assist, his first as a St. Louis Blue.
Nashville turned up their play after the Cole goal and it was Nick Spaling who tied the game off a perfect deflection past Miller. Patric Hornqvist and Mike Fisher picked up the assist on the Spaling goal.
Nashville ended up out-shooting the Blues 8-4 in the first period. The Blues would pick it up the rest of the game, and out-shot the Predators 18-13.
The second period was dominated by the forecheck of both teams. Yet it was the speed by Magnus Paajarvi which helped give the Blues the lead. He flew past the Predators defense, pulled the puck to his forehand, and ripped a shot under the blocker of Rinne. It was his sixth of the season and the eventual game winning goal.
Magnus Paajarvi Scores Beauty Against Pekka Rinne
With the four minutes left in the second period, Alexander Steen stole the puck from Roman Josi and was hooked on the breakaway for a penalty shot. Steen skated in on Rinne and rifled a shot glove side, right into the glove of Rinne. That was Rinne's sixth career penalty shot against, he has stopped four of the six attempts.
The Blues would continue their shutdown play in the third, allowing only six shots on goal. Three of the six were high quality chances for the Predators and Miller came up big, now allowing a puck to get behind him.
With 7:33 to go into the third, David Backes bumped skates with Rinne, and both players fell. Mike Fisher would come in and go after Backes but neither were able to square up before the officials came in. After all ten players on the ice were pushing and shoving but nothing came out of it. Backes was called for roughing and Fisher was given four minutes for roughing. The powerplay was short lived as Oshie was called for high sticking just six seconds into the man advantage.
Alex Pietrangelo and Steen both missed on empty net chances from 200 feet and the period would end, giving the Blues their third straight victory.
Ott finished the night playing just over 14 minutes and was 67% on the draw. Only Backes was better on the dot, winning 71% of his draws. Patrik Berglund had a tough night in the faceoff circle, as Matt Cullen dominated off the draw. Berglund finished the night by winning just 10% of the faceoffs he took.
Jay Bouwmeester played a team high 22:44 on the night. Pietrangelo had a team high on the penalty kill with 4:14 tonight while Steen played 1:29, a team high on the powerplay.
Good news on the injury front, as both Vladimir Sobotka skated today in Nashville and looks to be healing well. He could be back in the next week. I'd look for a possible return when the Blues play the Edmonton Oilers next Thursday.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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