Blues, Mason End Preds Streak with 3-1 Win

Barry Trotz Comments

Dave Scatchard, Steve Sullivan and Pekka Rinne

Blues Coach Andy Murray, Chris Mason and Brad Boyes

The Nashville Predators beat the St. Louis Blues on their home ice to start their seven game win streak and the Blues came back to end the streak on the Pred's ice as the Blues beat the Preds 3-1.

Chris Mason provided a stellar performance in net, stopping 37 of 38 shots, while the Blues got goals from Brad Boyes, David Backes, and ex-Pred Paul Kariya.

The Predators started the game looking somewhat out of sync and never seemed to get back to the play that has driven their success in recent weeks.

"I didn't think we were sharp today," Coach Barry Trotz related after the game. "I've said the last two games that we haven't been as sharp."

The Predators failed to score on the power play, which has been their mainstay in the last few games, going o for 5 for the evening. "They did a good job on the PK, we had some chance but they didn't go in," Trotz explained.

The Predators had a couple of pucks enter the net after a whistle that were disallowed. Trotz simply said "That's the game." The second non-goal was clearly after play had stopped, but the first involved a very quick whistle and would have turned the game completely around putting the Preds up 1-0.

Dave Scatchard scored the Pred's only goal a day after being recalled from Milwaukee. It was Scatchard's first goal since December 12, 2006 when he was with Phoenix. "It was nice but we would rather have the win," Scatchard stated.

In what was a real surprise, Scatchard was attacked by Carlo Colaiacovo as he raised his arms to celebrate the goal. "He just kind of jumped me," Scatchard explained. "If that's the game he wants to play, I'm willing to play it." The ensuing scuffle was only the Predator's third fight of the year.

The Preds return to the ice on Saturday night against the Florida Panthers in a game Barry Trotz called "The most important game of the season."

Trotz ended his comments with a bit of humor. When asked who would be in goal against the Panthers he said, "Yep, we are going to use one of the goalies, definitely, yep, absolutely."

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass