For the third time in 10 days, the Nashville Predators took on the St. Louis Blues. The Predators lost all three matchups, with Thursday’s loss coming by a score of 3-2.
Despite a push with a few seconds left, the Predators weren’t able to force overtime and are now officially eliminated from postseason contention.
“Epitomizes the whole year in one game,” head coach Andrew Brunette said.
Nashville’s scoring outburst kicked everything off as they struck first just two minutes into the contest. Rookie Fedor Svechkov scored his seventh of the season to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Michael Bunting had the quick pass from behind the net and D-man Andreas Englund picked up an assist, his first point as a member of the team.
Then, right around the halfway point of the opening frame it was Nashville’s defenseman Brady Skjei who found the back of the net on the powerplay. The Predators took a 2-0 lead on his tenth goal of the season. Skjei now has three consecutive seasons with double-digit goals.
Tempers started to flare in the second period as Englund hit Blues forward Jake Neighbours. Englund saw nothing but Neighbours’ jersey numbers, and the Blues forwards stopped in their tracks to stick up for their teammate.
Amid the fracas, Blues D-man Tyler Tucker dropped the gloves with Englund, and then the duo went off to the sin bin for five minutes.
St. Louis cut down their deficit to 2-1 after Dylan Holloway beat goalie Juuse Saros glove-side after Robert Thomas found him in the left offensive circle. It was Holloway’s 14th point in his last 10 games.
Then Nashville and St. Louis kept taking swings as they settled into the third period and the transitions were often being met by either team’s defense.
After forcing some defensive gaffes, St. Louis saw two quick offensive possessions go their way.
Defenseman Cam Fowler evened it up after dropping down for a shot from the blue line to make it 2-2, then just 22 seconds later, Holloway scored his second of the night to pull his team ahead 3-2.
Bunting misread a rolling puck in the slot, and the Blues forward picked up the puck and fired a quick shot past Saros to complete St. Louis’ offensive rally.
“You’re just really disappointed in the game and the result we got. Some very preventable things and unfortunately, we slipped there for a couple of minutes,” Brunette said.
Up Next
Nashville hosts the Vegas Golden Knights this weekend for the final Saturday home game of the season. Pete Weber and Jay More will be on the call.
Stay tuned for coverage on the 102.5 The Game airwaves.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of Nashville Predators
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