Jordin Tootoo scores with 3:43 to go, Predators beat Blues 3-1

Associated Press

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 11:50 PM

ST. LOUIS - Jordin Tootoo scored on a wrist shot with 3:43 left to give the Nashville Predators a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.

Tootoo beat Chris Mason from just outside the faceoff circle for his first goal of the season. David Legwand added an empty-net goal.

The Predators won for the fifth time in seven games, finishing their trip 2-2.

Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne made 21 saves after letting in the first shot he faced. Rinne won for the fourth time in his last five appearances.

St. Louis took the early lead. Brad Boyes deflected a pass from Erik Johnson past Rinne at 2:03. The goal was the fourth of the season for Boyes and his fifth point in the last two games. Boyes broke a seven-game pointless streak with a goal and three assists in a 6-1 win over Vancouver on Tuesday night.

Patric Hornqvist tied it at 1 in the second period, stuffing the puck past Mason from close range. The initial shot hit the side of the net and bounced out to Hornqvist, who scored for the fifth time this season.

St. Louis winger David Backes was given a major penalty and game misconduct for running Jean-Pierre Dumont into the boards late in the second period.

NOTES: The Blues has 22 shots on goal, ending their streak of al least 30 at six games. ... Nashville won 14 straight games against St. Louis from Oct. 15, 2005, to Jan. 27, 2007. ... St. Louis winger Paul Kariya is scoreless in his last nine games. ... The Blues have killed off 14 consecutive power-play attempts. ... The Predators will begin a five-game homestand Saturday against Montreal.

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

Tired legs are Wild's undoing in D.C. defeat - November 12, 2009

Tired legs are Wild's undoing in D.C. defeat - The Wild hit the Capitals with an early goal and big burst of energy, but playing back-to-back games eventually took a toll. More