Dalibor Dvorsky scores twice but Blues lose 5-2 to Predators

Matthew DeFranks, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Dec 15, 2025

Published in Hockey

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ST. LOUIS — For the second time this week, the St. Louis Blues lost to one of the few teams below them in the NHL standings.

In a 5-2 loss to the Predators Monday night, the Blues lost again to Nashville after last week's 7-2 defeat to the Predators. Dalibor Dvorsky scored twice for the Blues, and Joel Hofer allowed four goals.

Dvorsky scored an even-strength goal in the first period after Hugh McGing freed the puck up for him, and then again on the power play in the third period on an assist from Jake Neighbours.

Filip Forsberg had a hat trick for Nashville on an even-strength goal, a power-play goal and an empty-net goal.

The loss was the Blues' third in their last four games before hosting the Jets and Rangers for a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday night at Enterprise Center.

Poor second ... again

The Blues were outscored 3-0 in the second period Monday night, as the Predators turned a 1-1 tie at first intermission into a 4-1 cushion at the end of the second period. Including Monday night, the Blues are now minus-20 in the second period.

That's not only the worst second period in the NHL, but it's the worst period of any kind in the NHL, passing Columbus' minus-19 third period.

Michael Bunting scored just 1:23 into the second period, a wraparound that beat Hofer between his legs. After penalties to Alexey Toropchenko (high-sticking) and Dvorsky (delay of game), Forsberg scored his second of the night on a shot from the top of the circle on the power play about 5 1/2 minutes into the second.

Reid Schaefer gave Nashville a three-goal lead with his shot from the blue line that fooled Hofer with 1:15 remaining in the second.

It was the sixth time this season that the Blues allowed at least three goals in the middle period.

Chase addresses crowd

During a television timeout of the first period, former Blues enforcer Kelly Chase spoke to the Enterprise Center crowd on Hockey Fights Cancer night. Chase is currently fighting cancer.

“As all of you know, I’ve been having a little battle here the last few years fighting this cancer,” Chase said. “Got punched in the nose a little bit a couple weeks ago. Found out got it in my eyes, lost my sight for six days, lost my hearing. It gives you a different thought, a different mentality, sets you back. But one thing that I have to live for is the support I get from all of you. So thank you so much. Thank you so much for all you do for the city of St. Louis.”

The Fanduel Sports Network Midwest broadcast televised his speech to the crowd, and then Chase joined Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale in the booth towards the end of the first period. Chase has spent the last two years raising money for cancer research with his alumni and celebrity “Puck Cancer” games.

“I really mean it when I say it, he’s a guy that will literally do anything for anyone,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “I think we all see that. He’s a guy that’s going through a battle of his own and he’s still trying to raise money and help people out. He has a mentality and a personality where he would do absolutely anything for anyone. I’ve learned so much from him, even before when I was with the Flyers, I knew him way back being a Saskatchewan guy. He’s taken care of me tremendously from a young age. I owe a lot of what I’ve learned on and off the ice to Kelly Chase.”

When Chase spoke to the crowd, it came moments after Schenn got into a fight with Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague, and Chase began his speed by saying “First of all, atta boy Schenner.” Schenn’s fight with Hague was the precursor to more rough stuff in the first period after Michael McCarron bowled over Hofer behind the net.

McCarron and Cam Fowler exchanged shoves before Logan Mailloux and McCarron slashed each other and ignited a scrum. Mailloux and McCarron were each given minors for slashing and roughing.

Stenberg recalled

The Blues called up forward Otto Stenberg from AHL affiliate Springfield before Monday’s game, but he did not play. Stenberg’s recall comes after the Blues learned that Dylan Holloway would miss six weeks with a right high-ankle sprain suffered during practice on Sunday.

The Blues placed Holloway on injured reserve on Monday.

Stenberg, originally a 2023 first-round pick, has never played in the NHL. This season in the AHL, Stenberg has three goals and five assists in 21 games. He is the fifth forward the Blues have recalled from Springfield this season, following Dalibor Dvorsky, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Matt Luff and Hugh McGing.

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