Predators 5, Blue Jackets 1
Craig Smith scored a pair of goals as visiting Nashville registered its third victory in a row.
Colin Wilson recorded a goal and an assist, defenseman Seth Jones netted his first tally of the season and Mike Fisher scored during a third-period blitz as the Predators won for the fifth time in six games. Blue-liner Victor Bartley collected two assists and Pekka Rinne turned aside 30 shots to post his league-best 22nd victory.
Rookie defenseman Alexander Wennberg scored his first career goal late in the third period for Columbus, which fell to 8-1-1 in its last 10 games and suffered its first regulation defeat since a 2-1 setback at Nashville on Nov. 29. Sergei Bobrovsky gave up four goals on 30 shots before being replaced in the third period by Curtis McElhinney (four saves).
Wilson was sprung on a long lead pass by Bartley and beat Bobrovsky to the stick side at 7:47 of the second period to open the scoring. Nashville doubled the lead 98 seconds later, when Mike Ribeiro faked a slap shot and slipped a pass to Smith, who scored into an open net from the left side.
The Predators broke it open with three goals in a span of 2:14 in the third, ignited when Jones caught the Blue Jackets on a line change and drove to the net before stuffing the puck past Bobrovsky. Smith ended Bobrovsky's night 44 seconds later with a wrister from the right faceoff dot before Fisher greeted McElhinney with a snap shot that found the top left corner of the net.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Predators captain Shea Weber picked up an assist on Smith's first goal for his 36th point in 45 games versus the Blue Jackets - his most against any opponent. ... ... Columbus had an apparent goal by LW Nick Foligno 76 seconds into the game overturned by video review when it was ruled that Rinne kicked the net off its moorings before the shot. ... Predators LW James Neal returned to the lineup after missing one game with an illness and picked up an assist on Jones' tally.