Rocco Grimaldi scored in the eighth round of the shootout, and the Nashville Predators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Saturday night.
Colton Sissons, Ryan Johansen and Mikael Granlund each scored, and Filip Forsberg had two assists for Nashville. The Predators are a point behind Winnipeg for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with two games in hand on Winnipeg.
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Rocco Grimaldi scored in the eighth round of the shootout, and the Nashville Predators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Saturday night.
Goalie Juuse Saros made 40 saves, not counting six in the shootout, for the win.
This started a crucial five-game home stand for the Predators who are trying to claw their way into the playoff picture having not missed the postseason since 2014. Nashville already swapped coaches in early January, firing Peter Laviolette and hiring John Hynes a day later. Hynes mixed up his lines again, this time putting Johansen on the third line with Colin Blackwell and Austin Watson.
Jenner pulled Columbus within 2-1 a minute into the second with a backhand off the rebound, and Robinson tied it up at 4:50 with a snap shot from the high slot that queezed between Saros' stick-side and the post. Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson went to the box for putting the puck over the glass with 2:52 left in the second. Bemstrom scored 13 seconds later with a wrister from the right circle for a 3-2 lead.
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Pierre-Luc Dubois and Forsberg each scored to open the shootout. Gustav Nyquist scored in the fourth round for Columbus only to see Ryan Ellis score to keep the shootout going until Grimaldi finally ended it putting a backhander top shelf over Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) celebrates with Filip Forsberg (9), of Sweden, and Dante Fabbro (57) after Sissons scored a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Humphrey)
Goalie Juuse Saros made 40 saves, not counting six in the shootout, for the win.
Boone Jenner, Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom each scored in the second for Columbus. The Blue Jackets fell out of the Eastern Conference's second wild card and now are 0-3-5 over their last eight games.
The banged-up Blue Jackets had the advantage of arriving in Nashville on Friday, while the Predators lost 2-1 in overtime in Chicago and had to travel back to Tennessee.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Kevin Stenlund (11) moves the puck ahead of Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33), of Sweden, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Humphrey)
This started a crucial five-game home stand for the Predators who are trying to claw their way into the playoff picture having not missed the postseason since 2014. Nashville already swapped coaches in early January, firing Peter Laviolette and hiring John Hynes a day later. Hynes mixed up his lines again, this time putting Johansen on the third line with Colin Blackwell and Austin Watson.
Johansen responded almost immediately, scoring 33 seconds into the game tapping in the rebound of a shot from defenseman Ryan Ellis. That was just his 13th goal this season. Granlund made it 2-0 at 10:31, scoring his 15th off a 2-on-1 rush with Forsberg passing the puck across the slot for Granlund's wrister over a diving Merzlikins.
Columbus dominated the second, outshooting Nashville 20-10 in the period with three goals.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Riley Nash (20) is defended by Nashville Predators' Roman Josi (59), of Switzerland, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Humphrey)
Jenner pulled Columbus within 2-1 a minute into the second with a backhand off the rebound, and Robinson tied it up at 4:50 with a snap shot from the high slot that queezed between Saros' stick-side and the post. Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson went to the box for putting the puck over the glass with 2:52 left in the second. Bemstrom scored 13 seconds later with a wrister from the right circle for a 3-2 lead.
Forsberg shot from the side boards, and Sissons deflected the puck past Merzlikins' glove tying it up with 63 seconds left in the period with his first goal since Dec. 12.
NOTES: The Predators added a defenseman shortly before the game, trading forward Miikka Salomaki to Toronto for Ben Harpur. ... Granlund's goal was his ninth since Nashville made the coaching change. ... Ellis' assist was his first point since missing 20 games with a concussion. He returned to the lineup Friday night. ... Granlund now has nine goals and 12 points over his last 20 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) blocks a shot by Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Humphrey)
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Columbus hosts Ottawa on Monday night.
Nashville hosts Ottawa on Tuesday night.
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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) covers up the puck as Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9), of Sweden, and center Colton Sissons (10) close in during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP PhotoMark Humphrey)