Predators 5, Blue Jackets 2: Rookie Taylor Beck recorded his first career points with a goal and an assist as host Nashville ended Columbus' franchise-record 12-game point streak.
Captain Shea Weber, fellow defenseman Roman Josi, David Legwand and Matt Halischuk also scored while Pekka Rinne made 21 saves for the Predators, who have won two straight following a four-game slide.
R.J. Umberger and Artem Anisimov tallied for the Blue Jackets, who had gone 8-0-4 to climb into playoff contention in the Western Conference. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 11 shots before being replaced by Steve Mason, who stopped all 12 shots he faced.
Nashville took control in the first period, scoring four times during an outburst that produced five goals in a 3:04 span. Beck began the barrage at 7:11 with his first tally in three NHL games and Weber cashed in during a power play 70 seconds later to make it 2-0.
Umberger halved the deficit with a man-advantage goal at 9:29, but Legwand needed just 17 seconds to restore the Predators' two-goal lead as he knocked in a loose puck in the low slot. Halischuk completed the goal-scoring spree at 10:15 with a shot from above the left faceoff circle that also ended the night for Bobrovsky.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nashville improved to 8-2-4 at home, where it plays 10 of its final 16 games. ... Weber has recorded 11 points in his last 10 games and Josi has collected eight in his last five contests. ... RW Martin Erat was one of three Predators with two assists. He has collected five points in his last two contests following a six-game drought.
Columbus | Nashville | |
Artem Anisimov 1 | Points | Taylor Beck 2 |
Artem Anisimov 1 | Goals | Taylor Beck 1 |
Cam Atkinson 1 | Assists | Gabriel Bourque 2 |
R.J. Umberger 1 | Power Play Goals | Roman Josi 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Steve Mason 1.000 | Save Percentage | Pekka Rinne .913 |
Steve Mason 12 | Saves | Pekka Rinne 21 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Columbus | 23 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 9 | 28 |
Nashville | 24 | 5 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 24 | 40 |