NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The Blues showed some progress by scoring a goal, snapping a goal-less streak of 155 minutes, 27 seconds, but their losing streak moved to three _ and five in their past six games _ in a 4-1 loss in Craig Berube's first game as interim head coach on Wednesday.
A short-handed goal by Filip Forsberg in the second period broke a 1-1 tie. Forsberg anticipated a pass by Robby Fabbri, stuck out his stick, made the steal and was off.
In their first game since the firing of Mike Yeo as coach, the Blues certainly played a more physical game, with both teams getting into multiple post-whistle scrums, but scoring remained an issue for the Blues. The goal they got was a significant one: Rookie Robert Thomas, moved to the wing for the game, got his first NHL goal, firing in a shot into the top right corner off a pass from Brayden Schenn, who set up the play with a steal.
That tied the game at 1 after Frederick Gaudreau had put the Predators up with his first career NHL goal.
Nashville added a goal in the third period from Austin Watson after a Blues turnover. Watson's shot deflected off Nikita Soshnikov on the way in. Berube made an aggressive move with 5:37 to go in the third, pulling Jake Allen when the team had a 4-on-3 power play to give them a 5-on-3, though it didn't work as the Blues lost possession and Nashville's Ryan Ellis scored into an empty net with 5:12 to go.
The teams meet again on Friday at Enterprise Center.
