The set-up: The Nashville Predators may be the No. 8 seed in the West but after a 2-1 Game 4 win, they are on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. The Predators won back-to-back games in Nashville to push St. Louis to the brink of elimination and up their postseason record to a stunning 7-1. The Blues scored just two goals in two games in Nashville (one in each) and can hardly count on a return home to serve as a panacea, as they are just 6-8 in their last 14 playoff games at Scottrade Center, including 2-2 this postseason.

Nashville: Pekka Rinne was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the eighth round in 2004, back when the franchise was celebrating its first playoff appearance. Thirteen years, 11 NHL seasons and 564 games later, Rinne and the team that drafted him are a win away from reaching a place they've never been before. There were questions about the drop-off in Rinne's play entering the playoffs but he has posted a 7-1-0 mark, 1.33 goals-against average and a staggering .953 save percentage, the highest for a netminder with at least eight starts since 1982-83. Nashville's defensemen have played well in front of him plus have scored eight goals and added 14 assists in the team's eight playoff games.

St. Louis: The Blues know they must reduce their time in the penalty box, after seven minors in Game 4 and six in Game 3. St. Louis must also improve its own power play, as the Blues are 1 of 9 with a man advantage against Nashville and a woeful 2 of 24 on the power play in this year's playoffs, to-date. One player the Blues can't blame is goaltender Jake Allen, who owns a 2.05 GAA and .936 SP.

The pick: I expect nothing to change in Game 5. Allen will play well but the Blues just can't get much (if anything?) past Rinne. Nashville's 11 goals allowed in eight playoff games is the fourth-lowest total since the expansion era. Make the Under an 8* play.