The Nashville Predators didn't have newly-acquired Kyle Turris in the lineup, but they'll leave Nationwide Arena with two more points tonight. Pekka Rinne stifled the Blue Jackets all night long, leading to a 3-1 victory for his team.
After a scoreless first period, a CBJ defensive lapse led to a great look in the slot for Nashville defenseman Matt Irwin, who did not miss to put the Preds on the board. Columbus answered with a goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois before Calle Jarnkrok put the Preds back on top.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| PREDATORS | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
It was a battle of the Finns in net, as Nashville's Pekka Rinne battled Joonas Korpisalo – getting his first home start (and first action in the Eastern time zone) this season. Neither goalie disappointed.
Pierre-Luc Dubois stayed on his roll and scored his second goal of the season, stripping P.K. Subban to give himself a bit of a breakaway and putting a sick backhander past Pekka Rinne early in the third. It's a big-time play that Jarmo Kekalainen probably envisioned when he selected the Quebecois third overall in the 2016 draft.
Dubois picks Subban's pocket and doesn't miss on the breakaway. That is a big time play from the rookie.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/9s6gImQWsD
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 8, 2017
In the end, though, Korpisalo and Dubois helped spoil the return for Scott Hartnell – plus Ryan Johansen's second trip back to Nationwide Arena – as they rebounded after a tough loss last night in New York.
Speaking of Ryan Johansen, the player he got traded for had a pretty nifty move that's worth another look, even if it didn't lead to a goal.
Seth Jones: good at skating#CBJ pic.twitter.com/oQDfspfXvP
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 8, 2017
Zach Werenski had a really good chance to tie the game on the power play early in the third period, but misfired in tight, and the Jackets didn't get another look that good for the rest of the game, and the Preds sealed it with a late empty-netter.
Injury Update
Cam Atkinson returned to the lineup tonight and got action on both special teams units and leading CBJ forwards in shots on goal. Also returning to the lineup was Gabriel Carlsson, playing as the seventh defenseman tonight. Matt Calvert and Lukas Sedlak remain out with injuries, and will likely be out a few more weeks.
Next Up
The Jackets get two days of rest and home cooking as they wait for a Friday night matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes. Last time those two squared off, the Jackets needed some overtime heroics from Sonny Milano, and came away with a win in Raleigh.
After that game, they'll hop on the team charter and head up to Detroit, where they'll play their first game at Little Caesar's Palace Arena for the first time.
