Now that the Columbus Blue Jackets have cracked the win column, they will look to continue their momentum against the visiting Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Beginning the season on a three-game losing streak, a fourth defeat was looming when the Blue Jackets trailed the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 through 35 minutes on Tuesday. However, the Jackets mounted a comeback, leading to Vladislav Gavrikov’s overtime winner and a 4-3 victory.
Seven different Columbus players collected at least one point on Tuesday. Head coach Brad Larsen hailed the collective effort, but he still wants more from every member of the roster.
“You’ve got to find a way to win a game. One game, and then go from there,” Larsen said. “Hopefully you take your breath, it loosens up some guys. You see some guys are squeezing a bit. … We need more guys stepping up. We’ve still got some guys that aren’t on their game yet. A lot of times a win can help that.”
Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and an assist, collecting the game-tying score at 9:27 of the third period. The forward took the puck behind his own blue line and raced down the ice before scoring on a wrap-around tally.
It was the type of game-changing play the Blue Jackets expected from the star free agent, who signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract during the offseason. Gaudreau now has four points (two goals, two assists) in his first four games with the Jackets.
While the Blue Jackets fought back against Vancouver, the Predators were on the wrong end of a comeback on Tuesday. Nashville held a 3-1 lead with seven minutes remaining against the Los Angeles Kings, but Kings defenseman Matt Roy tied the game on a pair of late goals, and L.A. then prevailed in a shootout for a 4-3 win.
After winning its first two games of the season, Nashville has gone winless (0-2-1) in its last three contests.
Special teams played a huge role in the outcome, as the Predators allowed the Kings eight opportunities on the power play.
The loss “wasn’t (about) competitiveness, tonight it was smarts,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “It starts with the penalties. Offensive zone penalties, penalties on the power play and penalties at key times. You can’t get any momentum when you do that and you’re putting their top guys on the ice.”
Nashville also went 0-for-5 on the power play, including one chance in overtime. Both the Predators and Blue Jackets have struggled with the extra attacker early in the season — Nashville has scored on only one of 21 power plays, while Columbus is 0-for-10.
Elvis Merzlikins is likely to be back in net for the Jackets on Thursday. The goaltender played well in stopping 32 of 35 Vancouver shots in Tuesday’s win.
Juuse Saros had an identical 32-of-35 performance against Los Angeles. Saros has started four of the Predators’ five games this season and is the probable starter to face the Blue Jackets.
The Predators have dominated the recent history between the two teams. Dating back to the 2014-15 season, the Predators are 15-4-2 in their last 21 games against the Jackets.
–Field Level Media
