Blue Jackets 5, Predators 3

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J.P. Dumont scored a goal and created several quality chances throughout the game, but it was not enough as Nashville's late rally fell just short at Columbus, a 5-3 Blue Jackets win. The Blue Jackets took a 4-0 lead early in the game, before the Predators scored three straight to pull within one goal.

After the Predators were unable to convert on a few early chances, the Blue Jackets opened the scoring 4:25 into the game when Rick Nash beat Pekka Rinne five-hole. Columbus chased Rinne from the game with a pair of goals eight seconds apart at 14:18 and 14:26 of the first period. Rookies Nikita Filatov and Jakub Voracek netted the goals, the first career goal for Filatov.

Nashville had a handful of quality scoring chances including four dangerous shots on goal by J.P. Dumont in the first period, but still trailed 3-0. Columbus would extend its lead to 4-0 with a power-play goal 23 seconds into the second period, Nash's second goal of the night.

The Predators used an early second period power-play to start to change the momentum. Shea Weber's blast from the point went wide and Ryan Suter's chance into the vacated portion of the net was blocked by Fedor Tyutin. Nashville scored on the shift after the power-play when Greg de Vries took a d-to-d feed from Greg Zanon at the 8:12 mark of the middle frame and blasted a shot past Pascal Leclaire from the top of the left faceoff circle.

Scott Nichol converted a give-and-go with Jeremy Smithson 0:11 later to cut the deficit to two goals, Nichol's first goal of the season.

Late in the period, Ryan Jones nearly brought the Preds closer at the tail end of another Nashville power-play. Jones powered his way out of the right wing corner to the near post and flipped a dangerous shot on goal, but Leclaire blocked it aside.

Nashville did net its third of the night early in the third period. Joel Ward created the play on the forecheck, tipping the puck past Jan Hejda behind the Columbus net to Dumont on the far side. Dumont brought the puck from his forehand to his backhand to pull the puck in front of the net. Dumont flipped a backhander for his first score of the season with 18:22 remaining in regulation.

Columbus was able to regain its two goal lead at the 8:49 mark with its second power-play marker of the game. Two Preds players lost sticks and the Blue Jackets recognized the advantage and took the puck to the front of the net. In the ensuing scramble, Jason Chimera was able to sneak the puck under Ellis for his first goal of the season.

Dumont nearly netted his second of the game a few shifts later when his shot squirted through Leclaire, but Tyutin reached back and cleared the puck off the goal line. Dumont then drew a power-play opportunity a few shifts later, coming to the front of the net and just missing, but getting the hooking penalty. The Predators worked the power-play for several quality chances, including a pair of blasts by Dan Hamhuis from the center point, but Nashville was unable to convert.

Dan Ellis stopped 18-of-20 shots in relief, after Rinne started with five saves on eight shots. Leclaire made 24 saves for the win before giving way late in the game with hand injury. Fredrik Norrena made three saves to preserve the win.