In Columbus, the Blue Jackets rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the visiting Nashville Predators but had no response to a two-goal outburst by the Preds in 29 seconds before falling, 4-2, on Saturday night.
Calle Jarnkrok gave the Predators a 3-2 lead with 19 seconds gone in the third period.
Filip Forsberg added salt to the wound with 45 seconds gone when he made it 4-2.
“I think it was probably our best game of the season if you look at three periods,” Jarnkrok said. “I think we had a little dip there in the second, but other than that we played great. I feel like we played hockey again, so it was nice.”
Pekka Rinne made 21 saves to help the Preds split the two-game set.
“I do think we have zero concentration, but the two goals are just. … they’re free,” Columbus head coach John Tortorella said. “Right now, concentration, or their lack of it, is a big problem with this club. Major concern 19 games in.
“As bad as we played for two periods, and we have a goalie stand on his head like he did, and to enter the third period, it’s just an egregious turnover that causes the first one. Really, it was just a turnover, it wasn’t like it was a forced turnover. And the second one, we just get spanked one-on-one, and there’s your two goals.”
Boone Jenner and Gabriel Carlsson rallied the Jackets back for the 2-2 tie.
“It was a great pass from [Bjorkstrand],” Carlsson said. “I had an open net pretty much. I just had to put it in. It was nice to get my first goal, but we didn’t win so it doesn’t really matter.
“We had a little momentum after that. We started to get a little bit more into their zone, but we couldn’t get another goal.”
Colton Sissons also scored for Nashville.
Elvis Merzlikins got the start for the Blue Jackets, but left the game with an injury early in the third period. He made 35 saves.
“It’s only a game because of him those first two periods,” the Blue Jackets’ Seth Jones said.
Joonas Korpisalo made six saves in just over 17 minutes of play.
You must be logged in to post a comment.