Roman Josi netted two goals and assisted on two more, while Tommy Novak contributed with two goals and one assist as the Nashville Predators secured a 6-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday evening.
Cody Glass and Filip Forsberg also found the back of the net, with Juuse Saros stopping 31 shots for the Predators, who have won three of their last four games. Gustav Nyquist and Luke Evangelista each chipped in with two assists.
Nashville coach Andrew Brunette remarked, “I believe we did enough to clinch the win tonight. It wasn’t our most precise performance, but certain players stepped up. Our power play was particularly effective.”
Trey Fix-Wolansky scored twice, and James Malatesta and Alexandre Texier also added goals for the Blue Jackets, while Jet Greaves made 31 saves in goal. Justin Danforth contributed three assists to Columbus’s efforts.
Columbus coach Pascal Vincent noted, “The scoring chances were evenly matched, 23-24. However, their two power-play goals made the difference.”
This game marked the 101st encounter between Columbus and Nashville, with the Predators now claiming victory in 69 of those matchups.
After Malatesta’s opening-period goal, Nashville responded with four consecutive goals, including two from Novak. “It was a fantastic feeling,” Malatesta expressed. “I’ve had a couple of opportunities in recent games, so scoring tonight was very rewarding.”
Josi’s goal on the power play early in the first period was one of two power-play goals for the Predators in the game. After going 3-3 on the power play in Friday’s win against Chicago, Nashville continued their success with a 5-6 record on the power play over the weekend.
“We executed our power play effectively tonight,” Josi commented. “Quick puck movement was key. We showcased a similar performance yesterday, and it’s crucial for our confidence, especially heading into the playoffs.”
Forsberg’s power-play goal in the second period extended Nashville’s lead to 5-2, emphasizing the team’s focus on special teams. Forsberg stated, “Special teams become even more crucial in the postseason. We’re striving to build on our power play success. The last few games have been exceptional.”
With his franchise-record 47th goal following a hat trick on Friday, Forsberg continued his impressive scoring streak for the Predators.
