Nichol scores short-handed goals in Predators’ 5-2 win

J.P. Dumont, David Legwand and Jason Arnott also scored for the Predators, who beat the Blues for the first time this season in four tries. Jarred Smithson assisted on both of Nichol’s goals. Chris Mason made 24 saves.

The Blues dropped their fourth in a row (0-3-1) and have been outscored 21-9 during the skid. Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes had goals, and Paul Kariya recorded two assists.

Nichol scored each of his goals in the second period when the Predators broke open a 2-1 game and grabbed a four-goal lead.

Nichol netted his first when he skated in from the neutral zone and beat Manny Legace from a low angle in the left circle at 5:34 of the second.

Arnott’s 17th of the season at 15:06 gave the Predators a 4-1 lead and chased Legace after the St. Louis goalie allowed four goals on 15 shots. He was replaced in goal by Hannu Toivonen.

Nichol scored his fourth with 18.1 seconds left in the second, beating Toivonen to a loose puck near the right circle and sliding the puck into an empty net.

Dumont gave the Predators a 1-0 lead 6:37 into the first period when he deflected in a wrister from the left point by Ryan Suter on Nashville’s second shot.

McDonald tied it with a power-play goal at 10:23, his ninth of the season and fifth since being acquired by the Blues from Anaheim on Dec. 14.

Legwand put Nashville back in front with a bad-angle goal from the left corner at 15:09. The puck somehow found its way in off Legace’s back at the near post.

Notes: Fans were entitled to free hot dogs, chicken fingers, popcorn, chips, soft drinks and bottled water from the moment gates opened at noon through the end of the second period. The Blues also ran the promotion on Jan. 13, 2007 against the Los Angeles Kings. Nichol has six short-handed goals in his career. … Legace played despite injuring his right forearm in the first period of a loss Wednesday at Chicago. The Predators scored two goals in their previous two visits to St. Louis. Boyes has five goals in four games against Nashville this season. The teams will meet again on Monday in Nashville.