Predators spoil Blues' opener 4-2

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Pekka Rinne saw a lot of pucks at one end. The Nashville Predators did a lot with not many shots on the other end.

David Legwand had two goals and two assists as the Predators ended a lengthy scoring slump against Jaroslav Halak with a 4-2 victory that spoiled the St. Louis Blues' opener Saturday night.

" We played a little rope-a-dope,'' coach Barry Trotz said. " We got great goaltending and won the game on special teams."

Defenseman Kevin Klein got the go-ahead goal at 13:14 of the third, less than a minute after Jason Arnott tied it only four seconds into a tripping penalty call on Cal O'Reilly. Legwand added an empty-netter.

" Obviously, I think defense first,'' Klein said. " But they definitely talked to me before the year and said they want everyone to jump in the play and be a two-way defenseman."

Blues coach Davis Payne called Klein's goal " a back-breaker." Forward T.J. Oshie thought he may have screened Halak.

" A little miscommunication in the D-zone,'' Oshie said. " I don't even know if he saw it. Just a small mistake and they capitalized on it."

Craig Smith had a goal and two assists for the Predators, starting the season strong with a pair of road victories on consecutive nights coming off their first appearance in the Western Conference semifinals. They won despite getting outshot 33-16, scoring three times on just five shots in the third.

" Two divisions opponents, too, going into their barn and winning,'' Legwand said. " Weathering the storm, that's big for our team and our confidence."

Patrik Berglund also scored for the Blues, who were 8-1-1 at home to start last season.

" We'll call this speed bump in the road No. 1, nothing to panic about,'' captain David Backes said. " We outshot them 2 to 1, we just didn't bury our chances, and they did."

Halak hadn't allowed a goal in 171 minutes, 15 seconds against the Predators before Smith scored on a rebound shot in the first period to tie it at 1. Halak entered the season with 114 minutes and 55 seconds of shutout play.

" It's really tough to stand there, to get one shot in five minutes and then wait for another one,'' Halak said. " They always want to play a tight game, score a few lucky goals or a few bounces. It's hard to play against this team."

Legwand was credited with a power-play goal that put Nashville up 2-1 early in the third after his pass across the crease trickled into the net off defenseman Nikita Nikitin's skate.

" At times we clicked,'' Payne said " At times they misfired."

Nashville had 31 shots in a 3-2 victory at Columbus on Friday night.

Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo landed hard with his back and head into the end boards after getting upended by Blake Geoffrion at 13:16 of the second and did not return. The team said he had an upper body injury.

" No update for right now,'' Payne said. " We'll just check back on him in the morning. A little bit awkward situation."

A taped message from Blues forward David Perron, out since last November with a concussion, drew the biggest cheers in the Band of Brothers-style pre-game ceremony. Perron is skating with the team, but there's no timetable for his return.

NOTES: Blues public address announcer Tom Calhoun worked his 1,108th consecutive home game. ... Backes debuted as Blues captain. He's only the second forward since 1997 (Dallas Drake 2005-07) to be captain since 1997. ... Arnott was the Predators captain from 2007-10. ... Halak fell to 6-2-1 against the Predators.