ST. LOUIS The Predators and Blues will face off tonight for the second time in one week. In this case does familiarity breed contempt or just familiarity?
“We expect a revved up team and we have to be revved up,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said. “You have to put the war paint on because it’s always going to be a battle.”
In this game, expect a little more structure for both teams. For one, they’ve played each other already — the Blues (2-1-0) defeated Nashville (1-0-2) in a shootout Monday in Nashville — so they have a better read on their tendencies.
Also, being a few games in means the coaches have been able to put more of their system elements in place.
“Our first game against Columbus was a very light and casual preseason game. Too many guys were in their ‘C’ and ‘D’ games versus their ‘A’ and ‘B’ games,” Trotz said. “The second game against St. Louis it tested you, it tested you in a lot of areas.”
Said Blues captain David Backes: “We know some more tendencies, it’s our first repeat endeavor of the year.”
It’s also the first of two games Nashville plays against the Blues on this 15 day, seven-game roadtrip. Nashville will finish their trek here on February, 5.
Smith up to task: Forward Craig Smith has averaged near 10 minutes per game, and fired just four shots on goal in his first three contests of 2013.
Those are not exactly the type of numbers he was hoping for early in his second year in the NHL.
Smith, who had 36 points in 72 games last season as a rookie, appeared to be at center in line rushes this morning, in between Matt Halischuk and either Brian McGrattan or Rich Clune.
When asked how he can try to turn his game around, Smith said, “It’s just about before you go to bed at night, you pray the next morning is going to be a little different … I’m just going to continue doing the things I’m doing, that I did in the summer to get me to this point and I’m confident in how my body feels. It’s just about putting it all together and looking at video. You do all you can to prepare.”
Trotz said with Smith, it’s all about fighting through his first real rough patch as an NHL player.
“With Craig this is a little bit of adversity here,” Trotz said. “He’s trying to get some order in his game and thinking through and navigating and we’re trying to help him navigate through that. That’s what young players have to do.”
Gaustad out: Trotz said forward Paul Gaustad (upper body) won’t play Thursday night. This will be the third straight game Gaustad has missed. Trotz said the 6-foot-5 checking center was “probable” for Saturday’s game at Anaheim.
Rinne in: After a one-game rest, Pekka Rinne will be back in goal for the Predators tonight.
