Most of this is guesswork.
Amid injury concerns (Alex Steen, Craig Smith), possible returns to the lineup (Colin Wilson), and some new faces (Vladimir Sobotka), both of tonight’s forward lineups are up in the air. We know most of the pieces, but filling in the lines is somewhat tricky.
On defense, things are little more concrete. And of course we know that the two hottest goaltenders in the NHL, Jake Allen and Pekka Rinne, will get the nod in the goal crease.
Anyway, here are your potential starting lineups.
For the Predators, based on tweets and an article from Adam Vingan of The Tennesseean:
Forwards
Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala – Calle Jarnkrok – James Neal
Colin Wilson – Colton Sissons – P.A. Parenteau
Harry Zolnierczyk* – Mike Fisher – Austin Watson
Defense
Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin – Yannick Weber
Goalie
Pekka Rinne
*Adam seems to think that McLeod will start on the 4th line based on his play in practice. I have left him off this lineup because I refuse to believe that Laviolette would put his objectively worst forward on the ice in a playoff game. I see no reason why Aberg or Zolnierczyk shouldn’t play in his place, as they both played well in the opening round. However, Preds fans should be prepared for McLeod to play in this game (and everything that comes with that).
Here is what we can expect from the Blues, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Forwards
Jaden Schwartz – Paul Stastny – Vladimir Tarasenko
Alex Steen – Patrik Berglund – David Perron
Vladimir Sobotka – Jori Lehtera – Magnus Paajarvi
Scottie Upshall – Kyle Brodziak – Ryan Reaves
Jay Bouwmeester – Alex Pietrangelo
Joel Edmundson – Colton Parayko
Carl Gunnarsson – Robert Bortuzzo
Goalie
Jake Allen