Predators 4, Blue Jackets 0
Rookie Marek Mazanec turned aside 19 shots for his second shutout in five starts while Mike Fisher and Nick Spaling scored for the second straight game as visiting Nashville skated to its fifth win in six contests.
Matt Cullen and Spaling each collected a goal and an assist while David Legwand tallied for his 13th point in as many contests. Gabriel Bourque and defenseman Ryan Ellis each notched two assists for the Predators. who dropped four of five meetings with their former Central Division rivals last season.
After stopping all 27 shots in a 2-0 win over Detroit on Nov. 19, Mazanec hardly was tested in the first two periods before Michael Chaput hit the post midway through the third. Undaunted, the 22-year-old finished with seven saves in the final session to preserve his second shutout.
Mazanec received all the offense he needed midway through the first period as Ellis wired a diagonal pass from the left point to Cullen, who blasted a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky from the right faceoff circle. The goal was Cullen's fifth of the season and third in six games.
Bobrovsky finished with 25 saves as the Blue Jackets fell for the 11th time in 15 contests (4-8-3).
GAME NOTEBOOK: With the Predators on the power play, Fisher doubled the advantage 54 seconds into the middle period by burying a loose puck after D Roman Josi's initial shot caromed off Columbus D James Wisniewski. Legwand continued the uprising by skating through the crease and beating Bobrovsky to the stick side at 8:56. ... After keeping the Blue Jackets scoreless on two power-play opportunities, Nashville is a perfect 14-for-14 on the penalty kill over its last six contests. ... Cullen also has notched six assists in his last six contests.