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Predators claim big win over Blue Jackets

Mar 6, 2009 - 5:26 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Steve Sullivan scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period Thursday as the Nashville Predators won their sixth straight game with a 4-2 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vernon Fiddler, Ryan Jones and Martin Erat also scored for the Predators, who pulled into a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference with the Blue Jackets.

"We realize that if we stay persistent on the puck, we're strong defensively, we get some timely goals, and everyone is committed to winning, good things can happen," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We've been in that kind of mode for a while."

Jason Williams and captain Rick Nash scored goals 2:22 apart in the second period to put Columbus ahead, 2-1, but it was unable to hold the lead in losing for the fourth time in six games.

"We had a 2-1 lead in the hockey game," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We were really playing well, and we made mistakes. Right now, we are allowing way too many goals against and it's putting a lot of pressure on us in other areas. Just too many goals against the last three or four games."

Nashville completed its perfect five-game homestand and vaulted itself into the thick of the playoff picture in the West in the process.

"Every night we want to try and get points," Sullivan said. "That is our goal every night. We have to play these guys a couple of more times, it is going to be the difference."

Rookie Pekka Rinne won his sixth straight start, stopping 27 shots.

"Yeah, the guys played really solid defensively," Rinne said. "At the end, I didn't have to make too many saves. Even though they had that little push at end with six guys, I felt really comfortable and confident."

Following a scoreless first period, the teams combined for five goals in the second. After Fiddler opened the scoring at the 7:16 mark of the middle session, Williams and Nash pushed Columbus in front, 2-1, with less than six minutes left to go in the period.

"It's a different level after the All-Star game," Nash said. "After the All-Star break it's always hard coming to Nashville and playing. We were in the game. We were up 2-1 halfway into the game, and we just have to be better."

But Jones tied the game 94 seconds later and Sullivan's backhander beat rookie Steve Mason with 1:46 remaining in the second, putting the Predators ahead for good.

Erat added an insurance goal, his 15th of the season, 4:24 into the final period and Rinne stopped all six shots he faced in the session.

Mason allowed four goals on 19 shots for Columbus, which limited Nashville to just two shots in the third.

"It is tough feel comfortable in the game when you don't get a lot of shots early," Mason said. "Obviously that was the case tonight, but we can't use that as an excuse."