Predators 3, Blues 1
Martin Erat had a goal and two assists and Pekka Rinne made 41 saves as the host Nashville Predators moved past the St. Louis Blues into second place in the Central Division with a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Sergei Kostitsyn collected a goal and an assist for the Predators. He secured the win with his 13th goal of the season into an empty net.
Rinne and Jaroslav Halak, who finished with 34 saves, were heroic for their teams by making several spectacular saves.
Mike Fisher gave the Predators a 2-0 lead at 12:30 of the first period after receiving a pass from Kostitsyn from behind the net. Fisher then toe-dragged around a defenseman at the top of the crease and wristed his 15th of the season past Halak.
Earlier in the opening session, Erat scored his 12th of the season with a power-play blast from the point.
Rinne’s bid for a fifth shutout this season was spoiled at 4:01 of the third period when Chris Porter picked the pocket of defenseman Roman Josi and wristed a shot passed the surprised goalie. It was Porter’s third goal of the season and first in his last 10 games.