The Predators finished their four-game road trip in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. This was the first time Scott Hartnell revisited Nationwide Arena since being picked up by the Preds in the offseason. Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators while Joonas Korpisalo got the start for the Blue Jackets.
The Predators were able to get a power play opportunity just 30 seconds into the first period; however, they were unsuccessful on taking the lead that early on. About four minutes into the first period, Alexander Wennberg was able to get the tip from Markus Nutivaara, but Pekka Rinne made an incredible point-blank save to keep the score at 0-0. With under a minute left in the first period, the Predators got numerous scoring opportunities, but failed to convert.
With 18:03 remaining in the second period, Panarin was able to get a cross-ice pass to Seth Jones, but was stopped by Pekka Rinne. Viktor Arvidsson dished a pass to Matt Irwin, who quickly fired a wrister past the glove of Joonas Korpisalo to give the Predators a 1-0 lead with 7:24 remaining in the second period. Towards the end of the second period, Cam Atkinson got a wrap around scoring opportunity that was denied by Pekka Rinne.
Pierre-Luc Dubois stole the puck from P.K Subban at center ice as he raced in on a breakaway and roofed a backhand past Pekka Rinne to tie the game 1-1 in the beginning of the third. Miikka Salomaki was able to get wide on Alexander Wennberg as he threw it in from for Calle Jarnkrok to give the Predators the 2-1 lead. However, Columbus challenges the goal for goaltender interference. Luckily for the Predators, David Savard pushed Kevin Fiala into the goaltender to make it a good goal. After Filip Forsberg took a tripping penalty against Josh Anderson, Alexander Wennberg missed the wide open net at the chance of making it tied at 2. Once the Blue Jackets pulled their goalie, Viktor Arvidsson was able to get a breakaway to put the puck in the empty net to make it 3-1.
The Predators win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1. This win gave the Predators their third consecutive win. The Preds will be back at home in Smashville on Saturday at 7:00 as they rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time in Bridgestone since losing Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
