NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Mike Ribeiro scored the winning goal and had two assists, and the Nashville Predators spoiled goalie Martin Brodeur's debut with the Blues by beating St. Louis 4-3 on Thursday night.
The 42-year-old Brodeur made 20 saves in his first start for a team other than the New Jersey Devils. The Blues signed the four-time Vezina Trophy winner on Tuesday, tapping the NHL's goalie leader in games, wins and shutouts to help with Brian Elliott sidelined by a knee injury.
Rookie Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, and Eric Nystrom and Colin Wilson had a goal apiece as the Predators improved to 11-1-1 at home. The Predators snapped a six-game skid to the Blues in Nashville and took the Central Division lead.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals, and Jaden Schwartz added one for the Blues, who lost for the second time in two nights.
St. Louis started Jake Allen in goal for a 4-1 loss in Chicago on Wednesday, and then turned to Brodeur against Nashville.
Brodeur, 688-394-176 in 21 seasons with the New Jersey Devils - with whom he won three Stanley Cup titles - shut out the Predators the last time he faced them on Nov. 13, 2013.
He started this one with a fine save in close against Colin Wilson less than a minute into his debut. Brodeur also stopped James Neal on a slap shot in the first period.
Tarasenko put the Blues ahead 1-0 with a snap shot at 5:46 of the first period, prompting Nashville coach Peter Laviolette to take his timeout to regroup the Predators.
Any chance at Brodeur notching a shutout ended at 14:10 when the Predators scored on their 14th shot. Forsberg, born in August 1994 - nearly three years after Brodeur's NHL debut during the 1991-92 season, scored on a wrister off the rebound of Ribeiro's shot at 14:10.
Nystrom put Nashville ahead at 19:07 of the first with a one-timer off a pass from Ribeiro. Brodeur had little help from his new teammates as Nystrom had a clear shot.
Ribeiro padded the lead to 3-1 just 1:25 into the second off assists from James Neal and Forsberg on a goal Brodeur had no chance at stopping. It gave Ribeiro his first three-point game this season.
Tarasenko pulled the Blues within 3-2 with his 16th of the season and second of the game at 3:51 with a slap shot off the faceoff.
The Predators missed a chance to pad their lead early in the third when Brodeur easily gloved Taylor Beck's shot on a 3-on-1. But Wilson made up for the shot Brodeur stopped in the opening minute at 9:30 of the third on a breakaway. He scored with a backhander that beat the goalie glove-side.
Schwartz pulled the Blues within 4-3 on an unassisted goal at 12:32, but Predators goalie Pekka Rinne stopped several shots, including a flurry in the final minute with Brodeur on the bench, for his 17th win.
NOTES: Forsberg scored his first goal since Nov. 27. ... Predators F Paul Gaustad was scratched and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. ... Nashville is 12-4-2 in one-goal games.
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