Koistinen’s first career goal helps Predators top ’Jackets

He scored with 1:45 left to lift Nashville to the 4-3 win.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ville Koistinen’s first NHL goal was a winner as the Nashville Predators edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Thursday night.

Jason Arnott, Alexander Radulov and Jordin Tootoo also scored for the Predators.

Kris Beech and David Vyborny had power-play goals for the Blue Jackets, and Jiri Novotny also scored for Columbus.

Arnott opened the scoring 10:09 in during a 5-on-3 power play. Marek Zidlicky passed the puck to Arnott, who fired a one-timer from the middle of the left circle that went across goalie Fredrik Norrena and high into the right side of the net.

The Predators had five power plays in the first period as the Blue Jackets racked up eight penalties.

In the second period, the Blue Jackets scored at 4:20 on the power play. Jason Chimera’s shot from near the top of the slot was stopped by goalie Chris Mason, but the rebound went forward, bounced off the right skate of Beech and into the left side of the net.

Radulov gave the Predators a 2-1 edge at 10:55 of the second period. Zidlicky backhanded a pass to Radulov who ripped a one-timer between the legs of Norrena from high above the right circle.

The Blue Jackets tied it 2-2 on the power play with 1:52 left in the second period. Ron Hainsey’s slap shot from just inside the blue line was deflected near the crease by Vyborny and went under Mason’s pads. Mason apparently thought he had made the stop, but the puck trickled across the goal line.

In the third period, Novotny gave the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead at 14:27 when he put in the rebound of a shot by Nikolai Zherdev.

Tootoo tied it less than a minute later when he scored from the right circle.

Koistinen scored the winning goal with 1:45 left when he shot a loose puck between the left post and Norrena’s stick.