Nashville @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2019 ) St. Louis 5, Nashville 4

The St. Louis Blues will try to continue their recent mastery over Nashville when they host the Predators on Tuesday in a key Central Division matchup. St. Louis has won three straight in the series, including 3-2 on Feb. 9 and 5-4 in overtime on Feb. 10 to snap a six-game slide in Nashville, and has ridden a 12-1-1 run into third place in the Central - seven points behind the first-place Predators.

Rookie Jordan Binnington (14-2-1, 1.70 goals-against average, .934 save percentage) has spearheaded the turnaround for the Blues as his hot play has left former No. 1 goaltender Jake Allen playing only when the club has back-to-back games. “It’s not easy, but it’s something I have to adapt to,” Allen told reporters after making 33 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss at Minnesota. “I think I’ve adapted pretty well. I’ve found a happy medium between games. Usually, it’s been eight or nine days between starts. I’m trying to keep my practices as sharp as I can, keeping things loose, keeping a good perspective. I’m enjoying watching this team go.” Nashville (65 games played) took a one-point lead over Winnipeg (62) for Central supremacy after defeating Edmonton 3-2 in a shootout on Monday for its third victory in four games. Wayne Simmonds, who was acquired from Philadelphia on Monday, is expected to be in the Predators' lineup against the Blues.

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

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (37-23-5): Defenseman P.K. Subban (undisclosed) did not participate in the morning skate but landed on the scoresheet for the first time in five games Monday with a goal and an assist, giving him 400 career points. Colton Sissons scored his 11th goal of the season on Monday after going nine contests without a point. Ryan Johansen has registered a club-most 53 points but hasn't hit the scoresheet in his last five games.

ABOUT THE BLUES (33-23-6): Ryan O'Reilly, who leads the NHL in faceoffs won with 837, tops the club with 63 points but has been kept off the scoresheet in the last two games after recording six goals and seven assists in his first 11 contests this month. Vladimir Tarasenko has scored 10 of his team-high 27 goals in February, with three of his 11 power-play tallies this season coming in the month. Alex Steen (20 points) has recorded a goal and four assists in his last seven games, leaving him two points shy of 600 for his career.

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis on Monday acquired D Michael Del Zotto from Anaheim for a sixth-round pick in June's draft.

2. Nashville went 0-for-5 with the man advantage on Monday, dropping the NHL's worst power play to 12.6 percent.

3. The Blues are 18-for-18 on the penalty kill over their last seven games.

PREDICTION: Blues 3, Predators 2