Filip Forsberg notched his 12th career hat trick as the Nashville Predators secured a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday in St. Louis, marking their second win within a week. Forsberg and Steven Stamkos combined for seven goals against the Blues over this stretch, with Stamkos contributing four goals during a 7-2 triumph at Bridgestone Arena on December 11.
The Predators struck early, with Forsberg scoring just 27 seconds into the game from a smart pass by Ryan O’Reilly, taking a low-angle shot from the right side. Midway through the first period, Dalibor Dvorsk tied the score for St. Louis, but Nashville quickly regained control when Michael Bunting netted his ninth goal of the season, giving them a 2-1 lead.
Later in the game, Forsberg added a power-play wrist shot from the point to make it 3-1, followed by Reid Schaefer’s third career goal, pushing the lead to 4-1. Dvorsk scored again for St. Louis in the third period, while Forsberg completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal in the closing minutes, his first since April 12, 2024.
Ryan O’Reilly contributed two assists, raising his total to seven points over six games. He leads the Predators with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 32 games. Roman Josi recorded two assists, reaching four points in three games, and surpassed Borje Salming for the fifth-most multi-point games by a non-North American defenseman in NHL history, totaling 177.
Despite a slow start, Brady Skjei added four points in five games, including two assists in this win. Goalie Juuse Saros earned his 11th win, posting 20 saves on 22 shots, with a goals-against average of 2.99 and a save percentage near .900 at .897.
Looking ahead, the Predators will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena.
Fan Take: This standout performance by Forsberg and the Predators’ strong team effort highlight the excitement and skill in today’s NHL, showing that great gameplay can come from both stars and supporting players. For hockey fans, these thrilling moments fuel hope for Nashville’s rise in the standings and add to the growing intensity of this competitive season.
