HOCKEY: Predators aim to keep climb going vs. shorthanded Blues

After a slow start of 6-12-4, the Nashville Predators have steadily climbed back into contention for the Western Conference playoffs. The team has gained confidence, winning five of their last seven games.

“Hopefully we can develop a little bit of consistency,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “It feels like we're getting close.”

Nashville continues its push Thursday night when it hosts the St. Louis Blues in a Central Division rivalry game in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Predators are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory against the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

“I think just our overall team game, we're playing fast,” Predators defenseman Brady Skjei said. “When we're connected and helping each other out, being available, passing the puck crisply, it's a recipe for success for us. I thought the forwards did a great job holding on to pucks down low behind their net. That's when we're really successful.”

Brunette was pleased with his team’s execution against a dominant Avalanche squad, which earned points in 28 of its first 30 games this season.

“We kind of hung in there,” Brunette said. “We didn't deviate from the game plan. We executed what we talked about most of the game, especially in the third period. I thought we found our game a little bit.”

The Predators and Blues will meet twice in five days. St. Louis will be without several injured forwards, including Nick Bjugstad, Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud, Alexey Toropchenko, and Nathan Walker.

In response, the Blues signed free-agent forward Robby Fabbri to a one-year, two-way contract and gave Dillon Dube a professional tryout with Springfield of the AHL.

While integrating new players, the Blues continue to seek stability with their current roster. After winning against Ottawa and Montreal over the weekend, St. Louis fell 5-2 to the Boston Bruins at home on Tuesday. The team has yet to string together three consecutive wins this season.

“You need streaks in a year,” Blues center Robert Thomas said. “You need to continue to feel good. The last two games were tough road games, a tough back-to-back, and we were able to find a way. We had a lot of confidence coming in Tuesday but just weren't able to get it done.”

The Blues entered Tuesday with the NHL’s worst goal differential at minus-30, while the Predators were second-worst at minus-25.

Both teams have shown flashes of promise but are still searching for sustained consistency.

“Obviously, consistency has been a real big issue for us this year, and I think overall our game has been getting better,” Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. “We just have to keep pushing and running and hope for the next one.” -Field Level Media/Reuters