St. Louis @ Nashville preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 23, 2019 ) Nashville 4, St. Louis 2

The Nashville Predators got a lift from their backup goaltender and hope No. 1 Pekka Rinne returns to form when they complete a home-and-home against the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Nashville halted a six-game losing streak and snapped a four-game series slide with a 4-2 victory at St. Louis on Saturday in the first of four meetings this season with Juuse Saros stopping 24 shots.

The Predators' Viktor Arvidsson will miss at least four weeks after taking a vicious cross-check to the back from the Blues' Robert Bortuzzo on Saturday - an act that earned the defenseman a four-game suspension. Rinne, the 2018 Vezina Trophy winner, is 8-4-2 with a 3.06 goals-against average and .889 save percentage - well above his career numbers of 2.39 and .918. "Everything seems a little bit easier when you're winning," Rinne, who has allowed 18 goals in losing four straight starts, told reporters. "When you're not doing so well you start trying harder. That's the biggest thing: Just trust the things you're doing." Defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis has lost four of its last six as it begins a three-game road trip.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE BLUES (14-5-5): Klim Kostin, the 31st overall pick in the 2017 draft, scored his first NHL goal Saturday while captain Alex Pietrangelo recorded his 100th. Brayden Schenn leads the club with 11 goals while David Perron recorded his team-high 22nd point with an assist Saturday. Jordan Binnington (11-4-4, 2.23 goals-against average, .923 save percentage), who owns a 2-1-0 mark, 1.69 GAA, .946 SP against Nashville, has a .937 SP in eight November games.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (10-9-3): Captain Roman Josi has two goals and three assists in his last five games to raise his club-best point total to 22. Filip Forsberg recorded his team-high 10th goal of the season Saturday while Calle Jarnkrok (eight goals) has scored in each of the last two contests. Mikael Granlund (three goals, nine points) is expected to play his 500th game Monday.

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis signed RW Troy Brouwer to a one-year deal Wednesday but he has yet to play as he awaits his work visa.

2. Nashville owns the worst penalty-killing unit in the league, allowing one power-play goal against the Blues on Saturday after yielding five in a 6-3 loss to Vancouver on Thursday.

3. Rinne owns a 24-17-4 record with four shutouts, a 2.02 GAA and .930 SP in 46 games versus St. Louis.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Predators 2