Blues Surge with Fifth Straight Win, Face Predators Next

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The St. Louis Blues secured their fifth consecutive victory with a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at Enterprise Center. The team’s fourth line shone, with Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker each contributing two points, solidifying the Blues’ position in a tightly contested playoff race.

Head Coach Jim Montgomery praised the fourth line’s performance, stating, “They lead us with our habits. We’ve been preaching habits for a long time now, and we’re seeing that. It’s nice to see them get rewarded and they made some really high-end plays.” The Blues now hold a record of 11-2-2 since the 4 Nations break, placing them in the second Wild Card spot with 79 points. Despite this success, they remain under pressure from the Calgary Flames (77 points), Vancouver Canucks (76 points), and Utah Grizzlies (75 points), all of whom are within striking distance.

The Blues will host the Nashville Predators on Sunday as part of a four-game homestand, which also includes a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Predators halted a four-game losing streak with a comeback 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. Filip Forsberg and Luke Evangelista were pivotal in the victory, each notching a three-point night.

As for the Blues, Toropchenko’s game-winning goal against the Blackhawks marked the second of his career. In the last eight games, he has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) with a +6 rating. This season, he has logged 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 69 games, just four points shy of his career-high set last year.

Luke Evangelista also continues to shine for the Predators, accumulating 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 55 games this season. He was a second-round pick (42nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft and is currently in his third year with Nashville.

The Blues and Predators have built up a storied rivalry, with the two teams set to face each other for the third time in just over a week. St. Louis has won the first two meetings this season, beating Nashville 7-4 on December 27 and 4-1 on March 18. As both teams prepare for their latest encounter, fans are eager to see which side can capitalize on their current momentum.