Saros, Predators shut out Blues
ST. LOUIS -- Yannick Weber and Filip Forsberg scored 2:34 apart in the second period and Juuse Saros earned his first career shutout to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-0 win Friday night over the St. Louis Blues.
Saros, making his sixth start of the season and seventh of his career, stopped 25 shots in handing the Blues only their second shutout of the season, their first at home. A 21-year-old native of Finland, Saros has allowed only seven goals total in his six games this season.
After a scoreless first period, Weber's first goal of the season put the Predators in front 4:52 into the second period. Two minor penalties on the Blues 31 seconds apart put the Predators on a 5-on-3 power play for 1:29 and even though they could not convert during the two-man advantage, Forsberg scored on the remaining power play at 7:26 to increase the lead to 2-0.
The goal was the fifth in the last six games for Forsberg and helped the Predators, playing their third game in the last four nights, end a three-game winless streak (0-2-1).
Viktor Arvicsson capped the three-goal second period with his 10th of the season at 17:36.
The three goals came against the Blues' Jake Allen, who had been 11-1-2 at home this season and came on just 14 shots on goal. Carter Hutton replaced Allen in goal for the third period and he allowed the final Nashville goal, by Colin Wilson, on a power play at 8:08 of the final period.
The Blues did not score despite getting four power-play opportunities, including two in the first period.
NOTES: RW James Neal was in the Nashville lineup despite having to leave Thursday night's game in the second period because of an upper-body injury. ... One day after signing a two-year contract extension, D Robert Bortuzzo was back on the ice for the Blues' morning skate. He is on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury and likely will be sidelined at least three more weeks. ... LW Robby Fabbri became only the second 20-year-old player to record a hat trick in Blues' history on Wednesday night. The other is Hall of Famer Bernie Federko. ... As part of the Winter Classic activities, the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks will have an alumni game on Saturday at Busch Stadium featuring several of the team's legendary players. ... The Predators don't play again until Tuesday night, when they host Montreal.