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Weber, Hornqvist power Predators past Blue Jackets

Sep 28, 2008 - 3:18 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Defenseman Shea Weber and Patric Hornqvist each recorded a goal and an assist Saturday to lead the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 preseason victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Antti Pihlstrom also scored for Nashville, while Derek Dorsett netted the lone goal for Columbus.

A seventh-round pick in 2005, Hornqvist is a leading candidate to win a roster spot with the Predators. After combining for 41 goals over his last two seasons in the Swedish Elite League, the 21-year-old could find himself on Nashville's top offensive line in place of Alexander Radulov, who signed to play in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.

Hornqvist opened the scoring at 11:18 of the first period with a power-play goal, and Pihlstrom doubled the lead just 1:49 into the middle session. Weber, who helped set up Hornqvist's tally, netted one of his own during a man advantage midway through the third to stake Nashville to a 3-0 lead.

Defenseman Ryan Suter notched a pair of assists for the Predators.

Dan Ellis faced only two shots in the first period but was much busier in the second, when he stopped all 13 he faced in nearly 11 minutes. Pekka Rinne came on and made six saves in the middle period, but the Predators' bid for a combined shutout ended when Dorsett tallied with 5:43 remaining in the third.

The Blue Jackets outshot the Predators, 19-0, in the second period and 28-25 overall.

Fredrik Norrena made 22 saves for Columbus, which went 0-for-7 on the power play.