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Predators jolt Blue Jackets with two late goals

Dec 28, 2007 - 5:07 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - A pair of quick-strike goals enabled the Nashville Predators to extend their dominance over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rookie defenseman Ville Koistinen scored the game-winning goal with 1:45 remaining to lift the Predators to a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Jordin Tootoo also had a big tally for Nashville, scoring the tying goal with 4:37 to play - just 56 seconds after Columbus had taken its first lead of the game.

It was the first career goal for Koistinen and extended Nashville's winning streak over Columbus to 12 games.

"I am going to remember this one all my life," said Koistinen, who added two assists in the game. "I'm not a big goal scorer, I like to pass more."

"Ville Koistinen got his first goal and it was a huge one," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought he played very well."

Chris Mason made 36 saves for the Predators, who notched their 300th win in franchise history.

"I don't think that we played our best game by any means, but these are the types of games we are going to be involved in a lot," Mason said. Mason improved his record against the Blue Jackets to 4-0-0 this season as raised his lifetime mark against Columbus to 8-1-0.

The Blue Jackets appeared poised to end the drought against Nashville when Jiri Novotny gave them their first lead at 14:27 of the third period, converting a rebound of a shot by Nikolai Zherdev.

"We got beat on the wall three times on the third goal, and we got beat on the wall twice on the fourth goal, and that was the end of the game," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We completely controlled it, took the lead, deserved it and then gave it back."

But Tootoo's one-timer from the left circle less than a minute later beat goaltender Fredrik Norrena high to the glove side for the equalizer.

"We were resilient after they scored the third goal," Tootoo said. "It is always great to beat Columbus, they are our arch-rivals." "It was a roller-coaster ride this game," Trotz added.

Jason Arnott scored the game's first goal at the 10:09 mark of the opening period. With the Predators on a two-minute, two-man advantage, Predators defenseman Marek Zidlicky sent a pass to Arnott, who was standing on the left faceoff dot. Arnott one-timed the puck high to the glove side of Norrena.

Columbus answered with a power-play goal at 4:20 of the second period.

Jason Chimera sent a slap shot from above the left circle that was kicked aside by Mason. The rebound came to the low slot where it caromed into the net off the right skate of Kris Beech. After a lengthy review by video replay officials, the goal was allowed to stand.

The Predators regained the lead at the 10:55 mark of the second period on a goal by Alexander Radulov. His wrist shot from above the right circle through traffic slipped between the pads of Norrena for a 2-1 lead.

David Vyborny tied the game 2-2 at 18:08 of the second period. Ron Hainsey's slap shot from the left point was deflected by Vyborny and initially stopped by Mason. But Mason did not control the puck and it trickled across the goal line.