Predators 6, Blue Jackets 5
Martin Erat scored to snap a tie with nine seconds remaining in the third period as the Nashville Predators overcame Jeff Carter's first-period hat trick to record a 6-5 home triumph over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
In the waning moments of the third period, Erat capped the Predators' comeback from a three-goal deficit by backhanding the puck past Curtis Sanford, who returned from a one-game absence due to back spasms.
Carter recorded his third career hat trick by scoring three times in just under a 3 1/2-minute span in the first period and rookie Ryan Johansen tallied twice to give Columbus a 5-2 lead.
Nashville rallied as Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spaling and defenseman Roman Josi scored in the second period and David Legwand's power-play goal with 3:46 left in the third leveled the contest.
After Carter scored Columbus' first goal, he netted his next two after cleaning up loose pucks in front of the net and backhanding them past Pekka Rinne.
Rinne finished with 26 saves for Nashville, which prevented Columbus from posting consecutive victories in the Music City. Instead, the Predators have won 18 of the last 19 home meetings between the Central Division rivals.