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Blue Jackets aim to have momentum on their side vs. Preds

Nov 27, 2013 - 4:14 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets hope to build off their most lopsided win of the season when they host the Nashville Predators in Wednesday's battle at Nationwide Arena.

Columbus went 3-2-0 on a recent five-game road trip and ended the swing in impressive fashion, routing the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 6-0 score on Monday. It was the largest margin of victory for the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. The club hadn't won any game by more than three goals this season before downing the Maple Leafs.

Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky only needed to make 18 saves to record his first shutout of the season and the Blue Jackets scored twice in each period to beat Toronto for the second time in as many meetings this season. Bobrovsky also recorded the win when Columbus beat the visiting Leafs, 5-2, back on Oct. 25.

The shutout was the first ever for Columbus over the Maple Leafs in franchise history. It was the fifth career shutout for Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky will get the start on Wednesday and is 5-1-0 with a 2.48 goals against average in six career starts against Nashville.

Ryan Johansen lit the lamp twice and also tallied an assist on Monday. Cam Atkinson, R.J. Umberger, Jack Skille and Ryan Murray added goals for the Blue Jackets.

Columbus is playing two straight and four of its next five games on home ice, where it is 4-6-1 this season. The Blue Jackets have lost five of their last six games as the host.

Nashville, meanwhile, has won three of its past four games and is coming off Monday's 4-2 home victory against Phoenix. The win came two days after the Predators had a three-game winning streak halted with a 2-0 home loss against the New York Rangers.

Nick Spaling sparked a strong opening period for the Preds on Monday, scoring just over a minute into the game to help Nashville jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first period.

Mike Fisher, Gabriel Bourque, and Shea Weber also lit the lamp for Nashville, while Marek Mazanec turned away 29 shots for the win.

"He made some really good saves, especially late," said Fisher about Mazanec. "He's really been doing a good job back there and has kept us in the games he's in."

Mazanec has taken over the main starting duties while Pekka Rinne has been sidelined following hip surgery. The Czech rookie is 4-3-0 with a 2.28 goals against average in eight games. Mazanec has never faced Columbus during his brief career.

The Blue Jackets have won two straight and four of the last five meetings against Nashville overall. The Preds have lost two straight encounters in Ohio after winning their previous three tilts at Nationwide Arena.