Final Score: Predators 4 – Blue Jackets 3
Game Summary
It doesn’t matter what conference the Jackets are in Nashville continues to have their number. The Jackets played well in the game, with 38 shots and a 54.17% Corsi at 5 on 5, but still were unable to crack the Preds. Despite the strong play they were far from perfect, the second goal in particular standout. Alexander Wennberg makes a bad pass in his own zone that gets intercepted and then Sergei Bobrovsky decides to go full Dominik Hasek and Kevin Fiala walks around him and scores easily.
The Jackets kept the game close but were never in control always playing from behind. Nashville went up 2-0, before Brandon Saad got the Jackets on the board, tipping home a Seth Jones shot.
That is Saad’s 18th goal of the season and first in nine games. That was Jones’ 23rd assist of the season. He picked up another assist later in the game, giving him 14 points in his last 13 games. Jones has been excellent this season and showed it against his former team.
Nashville responded quickly to that goal to make it 3-1, but Oliver Bjorkstrand put the Jackets right back into the game with a wicked shot.
Scott Hartnell returned to the line-up but Bjorkstrand remained in the line-up as Lukas Sedlak was out with an injury. Bjorkstrand has given the Jackets a boost and has added a new element to that top line. His shot is deadly and he looks much better than he did earlier in the season. He has two official goals in three games, though he should have three, since that one against Pittsburgh was wrongly waived off.
The Jackets tied the game in the third, showing that the future is now. Zach Werenski aged 19, scored the goal assisted by 22 year olds Wennberg, and Jones.
Wennberg dazzles with the pass here. He stops up and passes through the oncoming forward right to the tape of Werenski. Wennberg’s 38th assist of the season has him in a tie for fifth in the NHL with Tyler Seguin and Victor Hedman. Werenski loves playing Nashville. He’s had two of his best games of the season against the Preds.
That is as close as the Jackets would come as Mattis Ekholm scored a little while later to give Nashville the 4-3 win.
The Blue Jackets are now on their bye week. This comes at a perfect time as the team is a little banged up, so they have a chance to rest up and get ready for the stretch drive. The Jackets next game is Saturday against the Islanders.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of
Natural Stat Trick and
Hockey-Reference.
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