• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Timonen scores in overtime; Blues drop 11th straight

Dec 18, 2006 - 4:30 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Just when the St. Louis Blues seemed ready to win for the first time this month, Kimmo Timonen shattered their hopes.

Timonen scored the game-winning goal in overtime and defenseman Dan Hamhuis netted his second goal of the season as the Nashville Predators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Blues, who have lost 11 straight.

After Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory over St. Louis, Nashville won its fourth consecutive game overall and 11th straight over the Blues since April 3, 2004. The Predators are 22-5-3 in their last 30 contests.

"We felt if we kept working and skating and doing the right things, they were going to come unglued, and they did," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "They took way too many penalties, and every penalty was deserved. When you give us enough power plays, we'll score eventually."

The Predators' captain, Timonen clinched the victory with 1:49 left in overtime on a power play when he fired a slap shot from the top of the slot that found the top-left corner of the net past goaltender Manny Legace.

"It was good to keep up the pressure on the power play, and in the end, it actually paid off for us," Blues netminder Chris Mason said.

Nashville trailed, 1-0, until Hamhuis netted his first tally in 15 games with 4:19 to go in regulation. The blue-liner forged the tie with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle over Legace's right shoulder.

"Last year, we certainly had their number and this year, too," Hamhuis said. "We're finding ways to beat them. I would not say this year we have been the better team in all three games."

Lee Stempniak scored his first goal in 16 contests with 5:10 remaining in the opening period on a wrister from the left circle that found the top-right corner.

"A point is nice, but when you lead late, you need a win," Stempniak said. "The results we got this weekend were not what we wanted."

The Predators won for the fifth time in six games behind Mason, who improved his record to 11-4-2 after making 22 saves.

Making his second appearance after missing four games with a concussion, Legace stopped 31 shots in his sixth consecutive defeat.

"There is stuff to build on and stuff to work on," Legace said. "We are not there yet but we are getting close."

"We lost because we were not smart," said St. Louis coach Andy Murray, who is winless in four games since replacing Mike Kitchen. "We played hard, and that is encouraging, but when you lose your poise, that is a problem. It has been a problem here the last two years."