Blues Begin Season Series With Predators

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The Blues resume a six-game homestand tonight against Nashville in a 7:00 start from Scottrade Center.  Andy Murray's team went 4-0-2 in last season's six-game season-series against the Central Division rival Predators.

Both teams have struggled offensively as the visitors have netted only 34 goals, which is tied with Carolina for the lowest in the 30-team NHL. The Blues have tallied 39 and are still one-of-only-four teams to score fewer than 40 this season, despite a gusher on Tuesday in a 6-1 win over Vancouver.

The Note look to send the same 20-man lineup to the ice tonight as winger Brad Winchester, defensmen Alex Pietrangelo and Carlo Colaiacovo are expected to be scratched.

Blues' netminder Chris Mason will start in search of his fifth win of the season. He's 4-4-3 with a .923 save percentage and 2.31 goals-against-average. His opposition could be Pekka Rinne, the large Finnish goaltender. Dan Ellis squandered a 3-2 lead in San Jose on Tuesday and allowed the Sharks a game winner with one minute left in regulation.

The Blues notched a pair of power play goals on Tuesday but are still no better than 23rd in the NHL's rankings. The Predators are dead last in power play rankings.

TPC