Watch: Tyler Tucker drops gloves with Jeremy Lauzon in retaliation for hit on Jake Neighbours – Source: Imagn

Sparks flew on Friday as St. Louis Blues strongman Tyler Tucker dropped the gloves with Nashville Predators’ Jeremy Lauzon.

The incident occurred during the first period of the Blues-Predators tilt. Tucker went after Lauzon following Lauzon’s hit on the Blues’ Jake Neighbours. The hit drew retaliation from Tucker, leading to the fisticuffs with the Blues leading 3-2 with a little over six minutes to play in the first.

Here’s a look at the bombs on both ends:

Tyler Tucker drops the mitts with Jeremy Lauzon for his hit on Jake Neighbours 👊 pic.twitter.com/ujqMiviuJc

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 28, 2024

Tucker’s body blows were enough to knock Lauzon to the ice where the officials stepped in to break up the altercation. In the end, Tucker wrestled Lauzon to the ice, prompting the officials’ intervention.

Ultimately, it seems fans will have to go to scorecards to determine Friday night’s winning combatant.

St. Louis Blues pull out big win over Nashville Predators

When everything was said and done, the St. Louis Blues pulled out a 7-4 over the Nashville Predators on Friday night. Robert Thomas scored twice for the Blues, with Zack Bolduc, Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko, and Philip Broberg getting on the board. Newcomer Cam Fowler scored his first of the season for St. Louis.

Meanwhile, Mark Jankowski, Steven Stamkos, Nick Blankenburg, and Jonathan Marchessault replied for the Predators. With the win, the St. Louis Blues open up a nine-point lead over the Predators in the Central Division. The Blues are hanging tough, trying to get back into the playoff conversation in the Western Conference.

As for the Predator, their disappointing season continues as they slide further down the standings. The Predators are three points up on the last-place Chicago Blackhawks in the Central. However, both the Preds and the Blackhawks look destined to ride the bottom of the standings.

The game against the Blues was particularly frustrating as the Preds’ starting goaltender Juuse Saros was chased in the second period after giving up five goals on 15 shots. Saros’ replacement, Justus Annunen, turned away 12 of 13 shots.

While the Preds made it close in the third period, cutting the lead to one goal, the Blues pulled away with a power play marker from Thomas and an empty-netter from Colton Parayko, a shorthanded marker to boot, to end the end for the Predators.

Cam Fowler earned the game’s first star with three points (1G, 2A), Robert Thomas the second with two goals, and Dylan Holloway got the third start with two helpers in the winning effort.

The Blues will be back on the ice after all the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday evening, while the Predators will face off against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.