Predators spoil Berube debut as Blues coach

NASHVILLE -- Craig Berube lost his coaching debut with the St. Louis Blues, 4-1 to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

Berube replaced Mike Yeo, who was fired Monday after a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
"I thought our guys stayed with it," Berube said. "What I saw was they stayed with it and kept working."
WATCH: [All Blues vs. Predators highlights\]
Pekka Rinne made 28 saves for the Predators (16-5-1), who won their third in a row. Rinne passed Miikka Kiprusoff for the most NHL wins by a Finland-born goaltender with 320.
"A long time ago it wasn't even close to being on my mind," Rinne said. "[Kiprusoff] was well ahead of me and playing at a very high level when I was just trying to battle my way into the League. These are the things that you're not focused on, but it's pretty cool. When you're fortunate and stay in the League a long time you're going to face some milestones. This one, for sure, it's a cool one."

The Blues (7-10-3) lost their third straight and fifth in six games. Jake Allen made 30 saves.
Frederick Gaudreau gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 6:14 of the first period. Anthony Bitetto took the original shot from above the left circle, and Gaudreau got to the rebound for his first NHL goal in his 42nd game.
"Just trying to focus on doing the right things, not trying to think too far on those goals and stuff and just trying to do the right things," Gaudreau said. "To get that one feels good, for sure."
Robert Thomas tied it 1-1 at 12:39 on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle. It was his first NHL goal in his 16th game.
Filip Forsberg gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 13:22 of the second period on a shorthanded breakaway. Forsberg intercepted a pass and beat Allen on the glove side.
Austin Watson made it 3-1 at 7:53 of the third period on a wrist shot from the half wall. It was his first goal of the season.

"The first one is always the toughest to come across," Watson said. "You saw [Ryan Ellis] with the monkey off the back a little bit there. It's tough when you start going five, 10 games, but that was nice to be able to contribute tonight. To put one in the back of the net is definitely a good feeling."
Ellis extended the lead to 4-1 at 14:48 on a shorthanded, empty-net goal. It was his first goal of the season.

They said it

"We got the passion back. It was one of the more intense games we've had in a while. I think that started with our work ethic but again, you've got to find a way to win hockey games." -- Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo
"We talked about the coaching change a few times. We knew they were going to come in and play hard, and they did. They competed. Credit to our group, we came out and matched that and went on the attack and were able to get a couple of pucks to go for us, play good defense. It was one of those typical division games." -- Predators forward Austin Watson

Need to know

Forsberg had seven shots on goal on 12 shot attempts, and four takeaways. He has five points (four goals, one assist) in the past five games. … Predators forward Nick Bonino played his 500th NHL game. … The Predators have allowed two goals or fewer in eight of their past 11 games.

What's next

Blues: Host the Predators on Friday (8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
Predators:At the Blues on Friday (8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)