Halak Blanks Nashville, 2-0; Blues Hand Predators First Loss In Regulation

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Alexander Steen scored his first goal of the season and Jaroslav Halak turned away 24 shots in St. Louis' 3-0 victory over Nashville at Bridgestone Arena.

Halak recorded his second straight and 11th career shutout while Patrik Berglund and Matt D'Agostini scored the other goals for the Blues, who earned their first road win of the season.

Pekka Rinne allowed all three goals on 34 shots to suffer his first regulation loss of the season for the Predators, who have dropped four of their last six games.

After a scoreless first period, Steen netted a shorthand marker to give the Blues a 1-0 lead with just over seven minutes left in the middle session. David Perron passed from behind the net to the top of the crease where Steen one-timed a wrister past Rinne.

The visitors pushed their lead to 2-0 with 7:12 remaining in the game. Andy McDonald came down the right side and had his slap shot stopped by Rinne but the rebound came to right to Berglund in the slot and he drilled it into the open net.

David Backes fed from behind the net to D'Agostini as he was moving to the top of the crease, and his one-timer through the five-hole made it 3-0 with 4:45 to play.

Steen had gone 12 straight games without a goal dating back to April 1 of last season...He had taken 27 shots entering the game without a goal, only Ollie Jokinen of Calgary had taken more, 28, without finding the back of the net. Halak has gone 154:35 of game time since allowing his last goal...He is 3-1-0 in four career games against the Preds...St. Louis center T.J. Oshie had an assist on the last goal and has recorded a point in a career-best seven straight games...The Blues were 1-for-5 on the power play and have notched a goal with the man advantage in six of their eight games...The teams have split the first two of six meetings this year...Rinne is 7-3-1 in his career against the Blues...The Preds have allowed only one first period goal in their last six games.