Blue Jackets at Predators
THE STORY: It took them over a month, but the Columbus Blue Jackets finally earned a point on the road. The Blue Jackets suffered a 2-1 shootout loss in Boston, earning at least one point for just the fifth time this season and the first away from Ohio. The worst team in the NHL by a handful of points, Columbus ranks in the bottom five in nearly every statistical category. Most importantly, the Blue Jackets are dead last in goals against, surrendering an average of 3.6 tallies. Trying to take advantage of those defensive holes on Saturday will be the rapidly improving Nashville Predators, who have earned at least a point in nine of their last 10 games. The Predators are averaging 3.7 goals in their last seven wins and are getting strong play in goal from Pekka Rinne.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSOH (Columbus)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (3-13-2): Columbus can take some pride in holding the Bruins to one regulation goal on Thursday. The defending champs had totaled 34 goals in their previous six games. Curtis Sanford made his first start in goal against Boston and stopped 26 shots. The veteran backup is expected to get the nod again on Saturday over Steve Mason, who is 3-12-1 with a 3.63 goals-against average.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (10-5-3): Rinne is 7-0-2 in his last nine starts, marking the second longest streak without a regulation loss for a goaltender in franchise history. He made 38 saves on Thursday to key a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nashville has gone 3-0-1 in the last week-plus without top scorer David Legwand, who has been out since Nov. 8 with an upper-body injury. Picking up the slack has been Martin Erat and Mike Fisher, who have combined for eight points in the last two games.
OVERTIME:
1. Nashville took the first meeting, 3-2, in the season opener on Oct. 7. Ryan Suter recorded a goal and an assist for the Predators.
2. Rinne is 10-4-0 with a 2.40 GAA in his career against the Blue Jackets.
3. Columbus has lost 18 straight in Nashville.