NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The St. Louis Blues grabbed an early lead Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena but managed little after the first period and fell 3-1 to the Nashville Predators, sending the team home to St. Louis, Mo., with a third loss in a row.
Jimmy Snuggerud put St. Louis in front on a power play 13:07 into the game. Philip Broberg took a pass from Robert Thomas at the point and moved it down to the left circle, and Snuggerud snapped it past goalie Juuse Saros.
The lead lasted three minutes. Steven Stamkos tied it on a Nashville power play at 16:07 of the first, knocking in a rebound while traffic screened Blues goalie Joel Hofer. It was the 248th power-play goal of his career, moving him past Luc Robitaille into fifth place on the league’s all-time list.
Ross Colton scored the eventual winner at 9:02 of the second, taking a feed from Jack Drury in the high slot and shooting through an Adam Edstrom screen. Roman Josi assisted on both the tying and go-ahead goals. Nick Perbix sealed it with an empty-net goal with 1:29 left.
The Blues put just six pucks on net in the middle period. Hofer finished with 26 saves and Saros stopped 25. Coach Jim Montgomery said he was unhappy with how the effort dropped off after the opening period and said the team must play harder more consistently. Forward Dylan Holloway said Nashville packed in its defense once it went ahead and the Blues waited too long to push back.
The Blues are now 7-8-2 and winless in three games (0-2-1). Nashville, which has won four straight, also won the first meeting between the teams 5-2. The two Central Division rivals meet again next Saturday in Nashville.
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