Forsberg scores hat trick for Predators in win against Blues

Michael Bunting and Reid Schaefer also scored, and Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly each had two assists for the Predators (13-15-4), who are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games, including a 7-2 win against St. Louis in Nashville last Thursday. Juuse Saros made 20 saves.

“I thought it was a pretty solid game for us,” Forsberg said. “We started off well, obviously, getting that early goal. That gave us a little boost.”

Dalibor Dvorsky scored twice for the Blues (12-15-7), who have lost three of four. Joel Hofer made 21 saves.

“I think our first period wasn’t too good and we’ve just got to find a way to get back into games,” Dvorsky said. “That’s the thing we need to work on, I think.”

Forsberg put the Predators up 1-0 just 27 seconds into the first period. O’Reilly fed a backhand pass from below the goal line to Forsberg, who beat Hofer short side from low in front.

“On the first one, it was a great play by O’Reilly that found me in the slot and I got it off quick,” Forsberg said.

Dvorsky tied it 1-1 at 10:06. Hugh McGing stripped Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg of the puck in the offensive zone and fed a pass to Dvorsky in the high slot, where he beat Saros blocker side with a wrist shot.

“The positive is Dalibor Dvorsky,” St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery said. “It was nice seeing him moving his feet, beat a goalie clean with his first goal.”