Nashville Predators deliver response, grind out decisive victory at St. Louis Blues

The Nashville Predators needed a response to Thursday's disappointing game, possibly the worst performance of the season in a 9-2 home loss to Dallas.

The Preds made the response on Saturday in St. Louis.

Nashville grinded out a 5-2 victory over the Blues at the Enterprise Center with a style that more closely resembled the Predators who sped through November and December on a hot streak.

The Predators cut into the Blues' lead for the final wild card spot, now at two points (St. Louis' 60 points to Nashville's 58).

Colton Sissosns, Luke Evangelista, Filip Forsberg (on the power play), Luke Schenn (his first goal of the season) and Ryan O'Reilly (empty-net) had goals for Nashville, who built a 4-1 lead midway through the third period with goals 62 seconds apart.

Juuse Saros looked like the 2022-23 version of himself, making 35 saves including several key stops on Blues opportunities in the third period.

The Predators return to the ice on Tuesday at Vegas.

Nashville Predators live score updates, highlights vs. St. Louis Blues

FINAL: Predators 5, Blues 2

Ryan O'Reilly finishes off the scoring with an empty-net goal with 92 seconds to play.

Predators 4, Blues 2 at 12:52 of the third period: Blues cut into the lead

Nathan Walker cuts the Predators' lead to 4-2 with about seven minutes remaining after the puck hits off his shoulder on a rebound from a Kevin Hayes shot.

St. Louis is poised for a big push here. Nashville must get these two points, and in regulation.

Predators 4, Blues 1 at 7:51 of the third period: Luke Schenn adds another

Luke Schenn has his first goal of the season, scoring from the right point on a heavy shot. 62 seconds after 3-1, it's now 4-1 Predators.

Predators 3, Blues 1 at 6:48 of the third period: Filip Forsberg power play goal

Filip Forsberg is on the board with a power-play goal on a top-shelf shot from the right slot. Excellent work by the Nashville power play.

Juuse Saros saves penalty shot late in the second period

Jake Neighbours' penalty shot is saved by Juuse Saros with a minute left in the second period. Big stop in a big moment in this game.

Neighbours got a breakaway chance on a power play after a long pass, and Luke Schenn brought Neighbours down before he could get a clean look at Saros.

Still 2-1 Predators.

Predators 2, Blues 1 at 13:09 of the second period: Luke Evangelista breakaway goal

Luke Evangelista gets a breakaway chance off a Blues turnover, and he gets Jordan Binnington stretched out on a shot-fake before wrapping the puck into an open net. Heckuva effort from Evangelista against a hot goaltender.

Preds lead 2-1. Both goals off of Blues mistakes. Tonight looks a lot more like the December Predators, who took advantage of mistakes and made things difficult on the other end. It's Evangelista's 10th goal of the season.

Predators 1, Blues 1 at 19:55 of the first period: Jordan Kyrou 5-on-3 goal

As the Blues' 5-on-3 nears the end, Robert Thomas finds Jordan Kyrou on a cross-ice pass, and Kyrou beats Saros.

Predators 3-man penalty kill got a little too stretched out after initially clearing the puck. A lengthy 5-on-3 PK ask for the Predators at 81 seconds, and one second too much.

Jeremy Lauzon put Nashville in that situation with a high stick penalty while St. Louis was on the man advantage.

Predators 1, Blues 0 at 4:41 of the first period: Colton Sissons cashes in on turnover

The Predators strike first, with the Blues turning over the puck in the defensive zone, with Colton Sissons claiming the puck and beating Jordan Binnington over his left side for the game's opening goal.

Solid start for the Predators, despite giving up a couple decent chances to the Blues early. 1-0 Nashville.

It's Sissons' 14th goal of the season, one short of his career-high set in 2018-19. He's on pace for his first career 20-goal season.

Juuse Saros starts in goal

Juuse Saros is back in goal after being lifted on Thursday, though not entirely his own fault. Tyson Barrie and Denis Gurianov are among the scratches.

What channel is Predators vs. Blues today?

• TV channel: Bally Sports South

• Stream: Bally Sports app, FUBO (free trial), ESPN+ (nationally, blacked out where Bally Sports South is available)

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers. Viewers can also stream the game on ESPN+ outside of the Predators' local coverage area, ESPN's subscription streaming service that features more than 1,000 out-of-market games via NHL Power Play as well as exclusively-streamed games throughout the season.

GENTRY ESTES: Let's stop fooling ourselves about Nashville Predators contending this season

Predators vs. Blues start time

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 17

• Time: 4 p.m. CT

The Predators face the St. Louis Blues, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m. CT Thursday at Enterprise Center.

EXCLUSIVE: What Juuse Saros said about Nashville Predators possibly trading him

Predators vs. Blues betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Feb. 17

• Puck line: Predators +1.5 at -275, Blues -1.5 at +220

• Over/under: 6 goals

• Money line: Predators -110, Blues -110

Nashville Predators 2023-24 schedule

All games on Bally Sports South unless listed; All times Central

October

10: at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m., ESPN and ESPN+ — L, 5-3

12: vs. Seattle, 7 p.m. — W, 3-0

14: at Boston, 6 p.m. — L, 3-2

17: vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m. — L, 6-1

19: at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m. — W, 4-1

21: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m. — W 5-1

24: vs. Vancouver, 8:15 p.m. — L 3-2

28: vs. Toronto, 6 p.m., Bally Sports South and NHL Network (nationally) — W 3-2 (OT)

31: at Vancouver, 9 p.m. — L 5-2

November

2: at Seattle, 9 p.m. — L 4-2

4: at Edmonton, 2 p.m., Bally Sports South and NHL Network (nationally) — W 5-2

7: at Calgary, 8 p.m. — L 4-2

9: at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. — L 6-3

11: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. — L 7-5

14: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu — L 3-2

18: vs. Chicago, 1 p.m. — W 4-2

20: vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.— W 4-3

22: vs. Calgary, 8 p.m. — W 4-2

24: at St. Louis 2 p.m.— W 8-3

26: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.— W 3-2

28: vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.— W 3-2 (OT)

30: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.— L 6-1

December

2: vs. N.Y. Rangers, 3:30 p.m.— L 4-3

3: at Buffalo, 6 p.m.— W 2-1

5: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.— W 4-3 (SO)

7: vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. — W 5-1

9: at Toronto, 6 p.m. — L 4-0

10: at Montreal, 6 p.m. — W 2-1

12: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. — W 3-2 OT

15: at Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu — W 6-5 OT

16: vs. Washington, 7 p.m. — W 3-1

19: vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m. — L 5-2

21: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.— W 4-2

23: vs. Dallas, 2 p.m. — L 3-2

27: vs. Carolina, 7 p.m. — L 5-2

29: at Detroit, 6 p.m. — L 5-4 OT

30: at Washington, 6 p.m. — W 3-2 SO

January

2: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. — W 3-0

4: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. — L 6-3

6: at Dallas, 7 p.m. — W 4-3

9: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m. — L 5-3

12: at Dallas, 7 p.m. — W 6-3

13: vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. — W 3-1

15: at Vegas, 9 p.m. — L 4-1

18: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu — W 2-1

20: at Arizona, 2 p.m. — L 3-2

22: vs. Florida, 7 p.m. — L 4-1

25: at Minnesota, 7 p.m. — W 3-2

27: at Edmonton, 3 p.m. — L 4-1

29: at Ottawa, 6 p.m. — L 4-3 OT

31: vs. Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. — L 4-2

February

10: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. — W 5-4 OT

13: vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m. — L 4-2

15: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m. — L 9-2 (27-25-2)

17: at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

20: at Vegas, 9 p.m.

22: at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

24: at San Jose, 9 p.m.

25: at Anaheim, 7 p.m.

27: vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.

29: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

March

2: vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.

5: vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

7: vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

9: at Columbus, 11:30 a.m.

10: at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m., TNT

13: at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m.

16: at Seattle, 9 p.m.

19: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.

21: at Florida, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

23: vs. Detroit, 4 p.m.

26: vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.

28: at Arizona, 9 p.m.

30: at Colorado, 5 p.m.

April

2: vs. Boston, 7 p,m,

4: vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

6: at N.Y Islanders, 6:30 p.m.

7: at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

9: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

12: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

13: vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

15: at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators vs Blues score, live game updates in St. Louis