Columbus Blue Jackets Fall Short to Nashville Predators 4-3 Sunday Night

Bobvrosky stopped 28 of 32 shots in a tough 4-3 loss Sunday night. Columbus Blue Jackets lose to start their bye week.

The Columbus Blue Jackets fell short to the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Sunday after a back and forth tough fought contest. The loss leaves Columbus just two points ahead of the New York Rangers in the playoff race as the season rapidly approaches its closing point.

The Jackets trailed early in the first, struggling to gain momentum after the day off. Nashville was coming off a tough 5-2 loss to conference rival Minnesota Wild and was hungry from the start. As the first period came to a close, Columbus found their groove keeping young goaltender Jusse Saros and the Predators on their toes.

With eight minutes remaining, the shot count was in favor of Columbus 8-6, but in those last eight minutes The Jackets outshot the Predators 11-1, finishing the frame with a 19-7 lead in the shot column despite trailing 1-0.

A busy second period would leave Columbus trailing after 40 minutes of play. Columbus was outshot 15-9 in that period.

The Predators took a 2-0 lead about halfway through the second but less than a minute later Brandon Saad brought it back within one. His 18^th of the season came assisted by Seth Jones and Zach Werenski.

After giving up another goal at 15:40 of the second, it was the recent call-up in just his seventh game of the season, Oliver Bjorkstrand netted his second of the season once again bringing the Jackets within one.

Just a few minutes into the third frame, Zach Werenski tied it up with assists being awarded to Alexander Wennberg and Seth Jones.  The Jackets battled until the end but it wasn’t enough as the late game heroics of Mattias Ekholm would propel the predators to the 4-3 victory.

Tough Loss

Bobvrosky played an incredible game despite giving up four goals, making 28 saves on 32 shots. The young net-minder at the other end, Jusse Saros, made 35 saves on 38 shots earning himself the third star of the game.

The Blue Jackets put a lot of emphasis on this game, as it was the last before their five-day break. The loss is going to stick with them but the Predators brought a lot of fire coming off their break just two days ago.

Columbus did have quite a few bright spots including Zach Werenski’s first three point game, tallying a goal and two assists. Werenski’s goal, his ninth of the season, sets a franchise record for goals in a season by a rookie defenseman, passing Rostislav Klesla, the first ever Blue Jackets draft pick. Also shining was the young gun Oliver Bjorkstrand scoring his second goal in his last three games.