Predators hold off Blues, end six-game winless streak

ST. LOUIS --The Nashville Predators ended their six-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday.

Filip Forsberg, Mattias Ekholm, Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok scored, and Juuse Saros made 24 saves for the Predators (10-9-3), who were outscored 30-14 during the streak (0-5-1).
"Winning's a lot more fun than losing," Nashville captain Roman Josi said. "I thought we worked really hard tonight. We can enjoy this for a couple minutes and then obviously, play them again Monday. So it's going to be even harder, but it's definitely a lot more fun."
WATCH: [All Predators vs. Blues highlights]
Klim Kostin scored his first NHL goal, and Jordan Binnington made 39 saves for the Blues (14-5-5), who are 2-2-2 in their past six following a seven-game winning streak.
"They got a couple bounces early, but even saying that, that's not our brand of hockey," St. Louis center Brayden Schenn said. "Turned over the puck too much, sat back, didn't take care of the puck and [caused] them to (have) good chances and break out with the puck. Our turnovers led to their offense and we have to clean it up for the next game."
Forsberg scored 20 seconds into the game on a rebound to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Ekholm made it 2-0 at 3:40 when his shot from along the left boards hit defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's stick, went off Justin Faulk in front, and deflected in off Binnington's stick.

Kostin cut it to 2-1 at 13:55 when he skated from his own end and beat Saros glove side with a quick wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle.
"Feels great," said Kostin, who was playing in his fourth NHL game. "I just see the net and just shoot. ... I was lucky a little bit today. I'm happy to score (my) first goal."

Sissons made it 3-1 at 18:34, jamming in a rebound in the crease after Mathieu Olivier drove around defenseman Colton Parayko to the net.
Nashville outshot St. Louis 22-9 in the first period.
"I haven't complained about our guys' work ethic or the way that they're digging in," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "Tonight, I thought we were good. We had good jump and we needed it. They're a good hockey team that we played. I thought we skated well, we battled well, and we did it consistently. I thought that was good."
Jaden Schwartz cut it to 3-2 at 16:52 of the third period on the power play, but Jarnkrok scored into an empty net at 19:29 for the 4-2 final.

"That was a good win," Laviolette said. "I thought the guys played hard, invested a lot, and got the win, and that was important."
Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson left the game at 10:11 of the first period with a lower-body injury. Laviolette didn't provide an update after the game.

They said it

"We're trying to get that one and we got it. When you're in it rough like that, like we were, that first one is hard to get. It feels like it eludes you no matter what you do so credit to everybody in here from staff to players. Everybody stayed with each other and we were able to find a way to get a big win tonight." -- Predators forward Austin Watson
"They were more desperate and definitely came out harder than we did. ... We didn't play good enough to win the game." -- Blues coach Craig Berube

Need to know

Forsberg has 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games against the Blues. ... Josi had an assist and was plus-3 in 27:58 of ice time. He has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past nine games. ... Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis played in his 500th NHL game, and Arvidsson played in his 300th. … Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Sunday for cross-checking Arvidsson.

What's next

Predators:Host the St. Louis Blues on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-TN, FS-MW, NHL.TV)
Blues:At the Nashville Predators on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-TN, FS-MW, NHL.TV)