NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting overtime clash on Saturday night, Jonathan Marchessault scored just 1:44 into the extra period, leading the Nashville Predators to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Alongside Marchessault, Filip Forsberg, Cole Smith, and Alexandre Carrier also contributed goals for Nashville, while goaltender Scott Wedgewood recorded 25 saves. After a difficult start to the season with five consecutive losses, the Predators have bounced back impressively, now securing three victories in a row.
The Blue Jackets found scoring from Kirill Marchenko, Zachary Aston-Reese, and Zach Werenski, with goaltender Daniil Tarasov making 29 saves in the loss.
During the overtime, Marchessault skillfully maneuvered from the right boards into the slot before beating Tarasov, sealing the fate of the game.
Columbus entered the final period with a 2-1 lead, but the third period exploded with three goals scored within the first 4:09. Notably, Predators rookie Zachary L’Heureux marked a milestone by assisting on Carrier’s goal, achieving his first NHL point.
Noteworthy insights include the fact that Columbus has struggled with consistency, alternating wins and losses, and now holds a record of 3-3-1 for the current season.
As for the Predators, they found themselves down by a goal heading into the third period. This was particularly challenging as they were playing the second game of a back-to-back series. However, they mounted a rally against a Blue Jackets team that had been resting since their last game on Tuesday.
The pivotal moment of the match came early in the third, when Smith scored his first goal of the season just 26 seconds after the period began, leveling the score at 2-2.
A key statistic to consider is Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, which has been notoriously unfriendly for the Blue Jackets. The loss on Saturday night improved Nashville’s record against Columbus to 9-36-1-7 in 53 all-time games played in Music City.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets will kick off a three-game homestand on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, the Predators will make their way to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning, where they will face Steven Stamkos in his first matchup against the team that selected him first overall in the 2008 draft.