Predators defeat Blues, spoil Brodeur's debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Martin Brodeur hadn[[OpenSingle]]t played in the NHL since his final win April 13 with the New Jersey Devils. Stepping back into the crease after such a long break was a bit different for the 42-year-old goalie.

Wearing St. Louis blue instead of Devils red was just plain weird, at least in warmups. Then Brodeur got back to work, even if he didn[[OpenSingle]]t get the win.

Mike Ribeiro scored a goal and had two assists, and the Nashville Predators spoiled Brodeur[[OpenSingle]]s debut with the Blues by beating St. Louis 4-3 on Thursday night.

[[""]]It was a different feeling for me today,[[""]] Brodeur said. [[""]]I haven[[OpenSingle]]t played in a long time. Coming into the organization, different players, different team, coaching staff, so not sure what to expect. I did it for so long with the same people over and over.

[[""]]But glad it[[OpenSingle]]s over, and now I got (a game) under my belt. We[[OpenSingle]]re going to stop talking about it and just play hockey.[[""]]

Brodeur made 20 saves in his first NHL start for a team other than the Devils. The Blues signed the four-time Vezina Trophy winner on Tuesday, tapping the NHL[[OpenSingle]]s goalie leader in games, wins and shutouts to help while Brian Elliott is sidelined by a knee injury. His new teammates said they didn[[OpenSingle]]t help him enough defensively.

[[""]]Definitely nice seeing him make those big saves,[[""]] Blues center Jaden Schwartz said. [[""]]He definitely kept us in it and gave us a chance to win it.

[[""]]Just a couple mistakes leaving guys open in their D zone, and really had no chance on a few of those.[[""]]

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.

[[""]]We just wanted to throw everything at him,[[""]] Nashville center Mike Fisher said. [[""]]He hasn[[OpenSingle]]t played in a while and hasn[[OpenSingle]]t practiced a lot, either, but he looked pretty sharp. It was definitely good to get that one.[[""]]

Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals, and 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 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.

[[""]]Marty was fine,[[""]] Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said.

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.

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[[OpenSingle]]s NHL debut during the 1991-92 season -- scored on a wrister off the rebound of Ribeiro[[OpenSingle]]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 tic-tac-toe 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[[OpenSingle]]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 12-3-2 in one-goal games.