Predators 3 - 4 Blues
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Preds hope to extend win streak in St. Louis

Feb 1, 2014 - 4:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Nashville Predators will aim for their first three- game winning streak since early December when they visit the St. Louis Blues in Saturday's Central Division clash at Scottrade Center.

The Predators have won two straight and are 6-2-1 over their past nine outings, but the club hasn't won three in a row since Dec. 10-14 when it posted its second three-game win streak of the season.

However, Nashville, which enters Saturday five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, has not fared well against the Blues over the past several encounters. St. Louis has won three straight and seven of eight in this series overall and the Predators have dropped three of their last four at Scottrade Center.

The Blues also have outscored Nashville by a combined 10-3 margin in taking the first two of five scheduled meetings in 2013-14.

After posting a 4-3 regulation win Tuesday in Winnipeg, Nashville recorded a 3-2 overtime victory Friday against the visiting New Jersey Devils.

The Predators trailed 2-1 heading into the third period on Friday, but David Legwand scored with 10.8 seconds left in regulation to tie it and Shea Weber scored his second goal of the game at 1:29 of overtime to deliver the victory for Nashville.

Weber shook off a back injury to score a pair of goals, marking his first two- goal performance since scoring twice in a loss to Chicago on March 31, 2012. He leads all NHL defensemen with 15 goals this season.

After David Legwand forced extra time by tallying with a little less than 11 seconds remaining in regulation, Weber -- a game-time decision coming into the contest -- converted on a 2-on-2 rush with Colin Wilson to give the Predators the two points.

Carter Hutton did his part as well by coming up with 24 saves, including a game-saving stop on a breakaway from Michael Ryder mere moments before Weber ended it.

"This was a real good win for the team," said Weber. "We found a way and battled hard. Tied it up and then we took our chance in overtime."

Nashville is kicking off a brief two-game swing tonight and will also visit Minnesota on Thursday. The Preds are 11-12-4 as the visiting team this season.

The Blues, meanwhile, will play the first of four straight on home ice this evening and they'll try to rebound after having a three-game winning streak snapped in Friday's road tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. St. Louis boasts a 19-5-2 record at Scottrade Center this season.

Jeff Skinner recorded the deciding goal early in the second period and Anton Khudobin stopped 27 shots to help the Hurricanes down St. Louis in Raleigh.

David Backes scored and Jaroslav Halak made 28 stops for the Blues, who closed January with a 9-5-0 record.

"We looked like we wanted an easier game and we didn't get it," noted Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock.

The Blues enter Saturday's action two points behind Chicago for first place in the Central Division and four points ahead of third-place Colorado. The Blackhawks play this evening in San Jose, while the Avalanche are hosting Buffalo this afternoon.






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