Jackets lose shootout, fall to Predators, 4-3

Columbus rallied from a 3-1 deficit before falling.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chris Mason stopped all three shootout attempts and Martin Erat scored the only goal in the tiebreaker to lift the Nashville Predators over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Saturday night.

Erat, who beat Fredrik Norrena high, was the second shooter for Nashville.

Radek Bonk gave the Predators a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 9:05 into the first period. Dan Hamhuis took a shot, and Bonk took control of the long rebound in the slot and beat Norrena low to his glove side with a backhander.

Columbus tied it at 13:37 on Curtis Glencross’ goal. Dan Fritsche stole the puck off the stick of Ville Koistinen, and tossed into the slot. Glencross took control and scored from 15 feet out.

The Predators regained the lead in the second period when Marek Zidlicky scored from high in the slot on a one-timer during a power play at 10:07.

Just 35 seconds into the third period, Nashville extended its lead to 3-1. Martin Gelinas’ shot from low in the slot bounced off Norrena’s pads. Jordin Tootoo crashed the net and pushed the rebound in to Norrena’s stick side.

Pascal Leclaire replaced Norrena in goal shortly after the third goal, but Norrena came back in around the 5-minute mark.

Columbus answered with a power play goal at 14:27 mark when Manny Malhotra sent in a one-timer from the top edge of the right circle.

The Blue Jackets tied it at 3 with 4:13 left when Nikolai Zherdev skated beat Mason to his glove side from a couple of feet out in front.

Notes

Nashville C David Legwand played in his 500th NHL game. The Predators are 8-1 in their last nine home games with Columbus. This was the third back-to-back for the Blue Jackets, who lost 4-1 at Detroit on Friday night.