Pete Weber’s Postgame Report
Filip Forsberg
Filip Forsberg’s second natural hat trick in the past three games and Pekka Rinne’s fourth shutout propelled the Nashville Predators to a 5-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
Nashville (31-21-11) has won four games in a row and has at least one point in nine consecutive games (6-0-3).
Forsberg scored three times in the second period, his 24th, 25th and 26th, equaling his total from his rookie season last season.
Forsberg gave the Predators a 2-0 lead 54 seconds into the period on a rebound. Defenseman Petter Granberg took the original shot from the point, and Forsberg shot the rebound past Jake Allen for his 24th goal.
Forsberg gave the Predators a 3-0 lead at 5:39 on a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle. Craig Smith made a drop pass on the rush to Forsberg, who shot it past Allen.
Forsberg’s third of the period game Nashville a 4-0 lead at 14:49 on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle on the power play. Ribeiro made a cross-ice pass that Forsberg one-timed past Allen for his 12th goal in the past 11 games.
Forberg had three goals in a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
St. Louis (35-20-9) has lost three games in a row in regulation for the first time this season.
Smith and Colin Wilson also scored for the Predators. Rinne made 28 saves for his 40th career shutout.
Goaltender Pheonix Copley made his NHL debut, replacing Allen in the second period. Allen made 19 saves; Copley made five saves.
Nashville captain Shea Weber missed his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
The Predators continue their homestand on Tuesday when they host the Dallas Stars at the Bridgestone Arena. Face-off is set for 7 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast on the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.
