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ST. LOUIS -- Blues coach Ken Hitchcock calls his fourth line forwards the specialists. Lately, theyve simply been special.Kyle Brodziak got the tiebreaking goal 7:28 into the third period, lifting St. Louis over the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Saturday night.Vladimir Tarasenko and David Perron also scored and Jake Allen made 30 saves, helping the Blues finish 3-0 on their homestand. St. Louis is 8-1-2 at home this season.The play of the Blues fourth line of Brodziak, Scottie Upshall and Ryan Reaves was the catalyst. The unit was a collective plus-3, had four shots and five hits.Were out here to do a job and if we dont do it, were told about it, Upshall said. But things have been going good. Weve turned things around here, a good week at home, and its good to chip in.Fourth lines are generally expected to provide energy and ice time until the playmakers can get back off the bench. Hitchcocks crew is showing rare skill so far down the roster.They make plays, Hitchcock said. They make smart plays. They make scoring chances. They caused the first power play that we got in the game. They create all kind of zone pressure. They were the one line in the first period that was able to maintain pressure in the offensive zone.Mike Ribeiro scored and Pekka Rinne made 31 saves for Nashville, which finished a three-game trip 1-2.The Blues snapped a two-game losing streak vs. Nashville but have dominated the Predators at Scottrade Center, winning five straight. Overall, the Blues have won six of eight against the Predators.Brodziak snapped a 1-1 tie with his second goal in three games. He put in a rebound off Upshalls shot after the pair entered on a 2-on-1 following P.K. Subbans turnover.I think for the most part all year we felt pretty good about generating chances, being in their zone and we felt that if we kept playing that way the goals were going to come, Brodziak said. And fortunately the last couple of games weve been able to chip in.Predators coach Peter Laviolette believed a cross-checking penalty should have been called against the Blues, which caused Subban to turn the puck over.I thought we were good for two periods, Laviolette said. They seemed to grab some momentum off of that power play to open the third period and shortly after that we just couldnt seem to corral it. They gained some momentum and I think the shots were seven or eight to nothing at one point there. We start the third and we just couldnt get going.Tarasenko ripped a wrist shot past Rinne to make it 3-1 with 8:24 left for his team-high seventh goal of the season. The goal came off a rush following a couple of Allen saves amid a Nashville flurry moments earlier.Perron put the Blues up 1-0 3:09 into the second period with a backhand rebound off Jay Bouwmeesters shot from the point. Perron has a point in each of the last four games.Hes really competitive at the puck, Hitchcock said. Hes got a big mans game at the puck that makes him a very effective player in the NHL now.Ribeiro tied it with a power-play goal 8:59 into the second by pouncing on a puck in the crease that had trickled through Allen after he got a piece of Craig Smiths shot. The Blues couldnt convert on two chances to clear the puck leading to the goal.James Neal had his six-game goal streak snapped for the Predators.Game notesThe Blues acquired D Reid McNeill from the Penguins in exchange for F Danny Kristo. McNeill will report to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. ... Predators D Anthony Bitetto was sent to Milwaukee (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. ... Blues D Robert Bortuzzo returned after missing the last 10 games with a lower-body injury.UP NEXTPredators: Will host Tampa Bay on Monday night.Blues: Travel to Boston on Tuesday night.NCAA Jerseys For Sale . 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Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend.The league has never been as young and as talented as it is now. Here are eight players who will change the direction of their teams this season and beyond.1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers: This is a no-brainer. Not only is the 19-year-old forward a generational player, he has the ability to rival the career of No. 99. Yes, I said it. Not that McDavid wants to be compared to Wayne Gretzky, but the second-year NHLer has proven why he has the potential to become the best player in the world. That description is held by the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby, but if McDavid can remain healthy and productive, this dynamic player in every aspect of the game will revive the Oilers and return the Stanley Cup to Edmonton at some point in his career. Its also impressive hes already wearing the C.2. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: If Matthews, 19, was eligible to be drafted in the same 2015 class as McDavid and Jack Eichel, many scouts believe Matthews would have edged Eichel for the No. 2 spot. Either way, Matthews, last Junes No. 1 overall pick, has been outstanding since he turned pro. He was off the charts during the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America, and his four-goal NHL debut was nothing short of amazing. The rebuilding process for the Maple Leafs continues and Matthews will be one of the reasons winning hockey will become the norm once again in Toronto.3. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers: The No. 1 overall selection in 2014 is one of the best defensemen in the game. His talent was noticeable during his rookie season, when he impressed with his composure both on and off the ice. Ekblad, 20, was named alternate captain of the Panthers this season and its deserved. The 2015 Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year will no doubt also capture the Norris Trophy one day.4. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Calgary Flames: There are 40 million reasons the 23-year-old forward will have an impact for the Flames. His recent six-year deal worth $6.75 million per season has fans excited that Johnny Hockey will remain in Calgary to excite for the foreseeable future. But its more than just the money for Gaudreau. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the talented forward plays a lot bigger than his frame. Unlike the three players ahead of him on this list, Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall in 2011) and has elevated his game to become one of the best young players in the league.5.?Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres: Currently sidelined 8-10 weeks with a high-ankle sprain, Eichel is one of the reasons fans are excited about the possibility of a winning team in Buffalo again.dddddddddddd Drafted No. 2 behind McDavid in 2015, Eichel enjoyed a successful rookie season, posting 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games. He wasnt at his best for Team North America at the World Cup, but once hes healthy and cleared to return, its expected Eichels game will take the next step. High-ankle sprains are tough injuries to deal with for hockey players, so it will be a challenge for him to deal with for the next two months.6. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers: Of all the young players to play last season, Gostisbehere was the most dynamic to watch. The 23-year-old defenseman registered 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 64 games. His 17 goals set a franchise record for rookie defensemen and his 15-game scoring streak was the longest such streak by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. During the offseason, he had hip and abdominal surgery but showed no ill effects while playing for Team North America in the World Cup. The Flyers arent too far off from becoming a perennial Stanley Cup playoff contender again, and Gostisbehere will be a big reason for Philadelphias success.7. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche: MacKinnon is the most interesting player on this list. The 21-year-old forward and No. 1 overall pick in 2013 needs to elevate his game to a level this season where he can carry the Avalanche. He has the ability to accomplish it. That will be his challenge this season, and he must, in order to be considered an elite player. It was a good sign for the Colorado organization that MacKinnon spent the offseason working out with Crosby in Nova Scotia. By all accounts, it was a successful summer for both of them, especially MacKinnon. Well revisit his status in April.8. Jimmy Vesey, LW, New York Rangers: The 23-year-old forward gained the most interest as a college free agent during the summer. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner from Harvard entertained offers from seven NHL teams before signing with the Rangers in August. He will be given every opportunity to succeed in New York in every aspect of the game. Veseys addition to the lineup should pay dividends now and in the future for the Rangers. Hes considered a tireless workhorse off the ice, which bodes well for his current and future success. ' ' '