National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Columbus 3, Nashville 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 4, 2013
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Dennis LaRue, Brad Meier
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Bryan Pancich
Attendance: 17113

Blue Jackets 3, Predators 1:
Marian Gaborik made an immediate impact with his new team by recording a goal and an assist and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 38 shots as visiting Columbus topped Nashville to earn its third straight win.

Matt Calvert also had a goal and an assist and defenseman James Wisniewski scored on the power play for the Blue Jackets, who trail the St. Louis Blues by one point for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Blue-liner Kevin Klein tallied and Pekka Rinne made 35 saves as the Predators failed to earn a point for the second time in eight games and is two behind St. Louis in the West.

Gaborik, who came over from the New York Rangers in a deadline trade on Wednesday, gave Columbus the lead for good at 4:16 of the third period. Former Rangers teammate Brandon Dubinsky sent a backhand feed across the crease to a streaking Gaborik, who tipped it past Rinne’s left side.

Wisniewski got things started at 8:36 of the second with a one-timer from the slot during a 4-on-3 power play. The Predators knotted the contest less than four minutes later, when Klein stuffed the puck under Bobrovsky during a scrum in front of the crease.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
Calvert brought the puck all the way up from deep in his own zone and snapped it from the high slot, deflecting it off Rinne’s blocker and into the net for a 3-1 cushion with 9:10 left. … Nashville C Mike Fisher (hand) returned from a three-game absence and put two shots on goal on 21 shifts. … Gaborik had been held off the scoresheet in each of his last four games with the Rangers and had not recorded a multi-point performance since March 3.
Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Nashville
Matt Calvert 2 Points Kevin Klein 1
Matt Calvert 1 Goals Kevin Klein 1
Brandon Dubinsky 2 Assists Patric Hornqvist 1
James Wisniewski 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Sergei Bobrovsky .974 Save Percentage Pekka Rinne .921
Sergei Bobrovsky 38 Saves Pekka Rinne 35
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 38 3 1-2 2-2 6 32
Nashville 39 1 0-2 1-2 6 27
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Predators have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .409 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .533 after a win and .333 after a loss.