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Predators Rally to Top Blues 4-3 in OT

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[April 02, 2008]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Rich Peverley scored 1:43 into overtime to complete Nashville's comeback from a three-goal deficit and give the Predators a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.

Nashville also got goals from Brandon Bochenski, Jordin Tootoo, Vernon Fiddler after falling behind 3-0 early on. The Predators earned two valuable points and jumped ahead of Vancouver into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, Tge Canucks played Colorado later Tuesday.

Andy McDonald, David Perron and Jamal Mayers scored for the Blues, who scored three times in the game's first 7 minutes.

Peverley was able to deke into the left circle and beat Blues goalie Hannu Toivonen with a wrist shot to complete the Predators' comeback.

Bochenski got the Predators on the board at 6:06 of the second period, beating Toivonen with a wrist shot from the high slot for the only scoring of the second period.

Blues goalie Manny Legace stopped all eight shots he faced in the opening period, then was replaced by Toivonen at the beginning of the second after sustaining a hip flexor.

Tootoo's 11th goal of the season cut St. Louis' lead to 3-2 just 1:53 into the third period on a slap shot from just outside the left circle.

Nashville nearly tied it, but Toivonen preserved the lead with two point-blank saves on Vernon Fiddler, including a dazzling glove save with 13:22 to play.

But the Predators did tie it with 6:32 to play when Fiddler stole a puck at the side of the Blues' goal from Keith Tkachuk, skated around the net and roofed a puck over Toivonen's shoulder at the near post.

The Blues hit the Predators with three goals in the game's first 6:46 and led 3-0 after one period. The Blues also chased Nashville goalie Dan Ellis, who stopped just four of the seven shots he faced.

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McDonald got his 18th of the season 1:40 into the game, knocking in a behind-the-net feed from Perron from just inside the left circle. Mayers made it 2-0 on a blast from just inside the right circle, beating Ellis high stick side after receiving Barret Jackman's cross ice feed at 4:50. Perron made it 3-0 after converting McDonald's pass after a 2-on-1 at 6:46.

Notes: Blues F Paul Kariya played in his 900th career game Tuesday. ... Nashville F Scott Nichol has four goals and five assists against St. Louis this season, or half of his season total of 18 points. ... Ellis had a shutout string of 233:39 snapped in Sunday's 1-0 overtime loss at Detroit. Ellis' streak was the fifth best in NHL history dating back to the 1943-44 season. Ellis' streak is a team record. ... The teams will meet for the eighth and final time Thursday in Nashville. The Predators hold the season series lead at 4-3. St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt and his son were in attendance.

[Associated Press; By DAVE SKRETTA]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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