Blue Jackets 1 - 4 Predators
Final
  for this game

Fisher leads Nashville over Columbus

Jan 24, 2012 - 4:50 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Mike Fisher scored twice and Pekka Rinne made 25 saves as Nashville continued its home dominance over Columbus with a 4-1 victory at Bridgestone Arena.

Patric Hornqvist and Matt Halischuk also tallied for the Predators, who have won 22 of their last 24 games in Tennessee against Monday's opponent since 2005.

"No, not really," said Predators head coach Barry Trotz when asked if he was happy to see the season series with Columbus end. "This was the one game that wasn't as tight as the other ones. They challenge us all the time."

Nashville won five of the six meetings, including all three in Ohio's capital.

Rick Nash provided the sole offense for the Blue Jackets, who wasted a 4-1 lead and lost 6-5 in their last trip to the Music City on December 22.

Steve Mason was tagged in defeat for all four goals on 29 shots.

Fisher put the hosts on top to stay with 29 seconds left in the second period on a power play, when he flipped the rebound of a Shea Weber left-point shot home.

Halischuk provided insurance for Nashville with eight minutes gone in the third on a turnaround wrister in the slot.

Hornqvist added another tally with just over three minutes remaining when he tipped in a Ryan Suter offering while providing a screen in front of Mason.

"It was a tough third period, and a tough one all around," Nash said. "I got a goal to put us right back into the game, but it wasn't enough."

Fisher gave the Preds a 1-0 lead at 8:07 of the opening period, when he stripped a Columbus defender and scored from the slot.

Nash pulled Columbus even at 6:14 of the second. He streaked up the right wing, cut into the middle and slid a shot by a sprawling Rinne.

Game Notes

Fisher notched his third multi-goal effort of the season and first since December 1 in Vancouver...Suter, who recorded two assists, returned to the lineup for the first time since January 16 when he was sidelined with an upper-body injury...Both clubs are in action on Tuesday for their final All- Star tuneups, as the Preds play in Chicago and the Blue Jackets head to Tampa Bay...Prior to the game, the Jackets activated forward R.J. Umberger off injured reserve and recalled forward Dane Byers from Springfield of the AHL.






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