Blues vs. Predators: Game 2 prediction

The Predators took care of business on the road in Game 1 against the Blues, and will look to ride their scoring touch to a 2-0 series lead.

The Nashville Predators may just be the new hottest team in the NHL postseason after their win on the road against the St. Louis Blues in their series opener Wednesday.

After the Blues fought back time and time again in Game 1, the Predators kept distancing themselves from their counterparts on the ice, and took home a 4-3 win to start the series.

Nashville will need to follow the same pace and strategy they’ve utilized during their first five playoff games, where their scoring has completely set the tone in their wins. The Predators also received helped from defenseman P.K. Subban, who showed off his offensive talents in Game 1 as he tallied a point on each of Nashville’s first three goals, with one goal himself and two assists.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne may need to settle down in net for the Predators, on the off chance they can’t return to their high standard of scoring, but Nashville looks as if it won’t be slowing down.

For the Blues, they’ll need to figure out what’s wrong with their star forward Vladimir Tarasenko, and what happened with Jake Allen in net. Allen saved 28 of the 32 shots he faced in Game 1, and showed his inconsistency in net for the Blues, while Tarasenko remained no where to be seen on the offensive end of the equation, contributing no points again.

Prediction: Predators 3, Blues 2

Like I said in previous predictions, this series will be settled in very tight, evenly contested games. The Predators are rocking on all cylinders right now, and it’s going to take much more from the Blues than just Allen performing well in net for St. Louis to even have a chance. I see Nashville’s scoring being too much for the Blues to handle, and the Predators take a 2-0 lead heading back for their home games.