NHL: Kevin Shattenkirk lifts St Louis over Nashville
Blues close in on Predators as San Jose beat Western Conference leaders Anaheim
St Louis: St. Louis’ Kevin Shattenkirk scored in the shootout to give the Blues a 5-4 win against Nashville on Thursday, trimming the Predators’ lead atop the NHL Central Division to four points.
The top two in the other Western Conference division, the Pacific, also clashed, with San Jose beating Anaheim to eat into the Ducks’ still-comfortable lead.
In the big games in the East, Tampa Bay went back to the top of the conference by convincingly beating Detroit, moving ahead of the New York Islanders, who were beaten at home by Boston.
St. Louis got goals in regulation from Jaden Schwartz, T.J. Oshie, Steve Ott and Ryan Reaves and improved to eight wins and an overtime loss in the past nine games.
Mike Fisher had two goals and an assist for Nashville, while Filip Forsberg and James Neal also scored for the Predators, who finished with a 3-1-1 record against the Blues this season.
San Jose scored five goals in the second period in beating Anaheim 6-3.
