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NASHVILLE — Ross Colton scored the decisive goal, Jack Drury provided an assist, and Adam Edström took on the less celebrated task of disrupting the opposing goaltender's view. All three forwards played key roles in the Nashville Predators' 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
Colton's second-period tally put Nashville ahead for good and stretched the team's winning streak to four consecutive games. The official NHL scoresheet credited Drury and Roman Josi with assists on Colton's fifth goal of the season. While the scoring summary identifies who finished the play and who provided the passes, a deeper look reveals why this particular trio warrants attention.
Three Roles, One Goal
Colton received Drury's pass in the high slot and fired a shot past goaltender Joel Hofer, with Edström screening the netminder. The sequence offered a concise introduction to the line's dynamic: a pass, a shot, and a player willing to occupy the most uncomfortable area of the ice. Though Edström did not record an assist, his presence gave Hofer an additional obstacle to handle while Colton released the puck.
For fans who track more than the final touch, the play is worth reviewing. A screen can contribute to a goal without appearing in the scoring announcement. The player executing it must still arrive at the right spot, establish position, and make himself a nuisance.
"I think he was a big factor on that play," Colton said. "It started in the D-zone. I think Roman [Josi] did a great job breaking the puck out and obviously Jack [Drury] did a great job finding me, but I don't think that seam happens if Eddy's [Adam Edström] not driving the net there." The puck often receives most of the attention; occasionally, the player obstructing the view deserves some as well.
Brunette Sees Beyond the Goal
Andrew Brunette's evaluation went beyond that single sequence. The Predators coach credited the Colton-Drury-Edström line with helping establish Nashville's identity through its energy, pace, and competitiveness on pucks. He also noted the line's ability to recover momentum during the game.
That distinction matters when assessing a forward line. Scoring is an obvious contribution, but giving the next group a better situation to enter the ice is also significant. A productive shift can force an opponent to defend, disrupt its rhythm, or allow teammates to change without immediately chasing the play. Such contributions require more attention than simply checking who scored, yet they are part of what makes a lineup function.
Brunette's assessment gives fans a specific group to watch for that kind of influence. Colton's finishing has provided another reason. Saturday marked his third consecutive game with a goal. Being difficult to play against becomes especially valuable when the same player is also becoming difficult to keep off the scoresheet.
Credit the Entire Line
One winning goal cannot prove that a line controls every matchup, nor can a scoring streak answer every question about a player's performance. However, Saturday provided a concrete example of three forwards contributing to the same result in different ways. That is a more useful starting point than reducing the group to mere energy.
Energy is a helpful descriptor, but fans are entitled to ask what it produces. Drury delivered the puck, Edström complicated the save, and Colton finished the play. The next time the fourth line takes the ice, observers should follow the sequence before the shot—watching who makes the puck available, who becomes a passing option, and who goes to the net—knowing the reward might be someone else's goal. Then check the scoresheet; it will tell part of the story. Saturday's winner serves as a good reminder to give the rest of the shift some credit.