In Nashville,Roman Josi hit for a double and four points, and the Predators took down the Columbus Blue Jackets, 6-4, on Saturday night. 
Juuse Saros was back in nets for Nashville, and made 31 saves in the win.
The Predators improved to 47-29-5.
“It probably wasn’t our best and not always our style that we want to play,” Josi said. “Those games aren’t always easy, but we found a way to win. It was important to us to get a win in the last regular-season game here at home. That’s the main thing.”
James Malatesta opened the scoring in the first period to give Columbus a 1-0 lead at 2:04. It was his first career NHL goal.
“It felt really good,” Malatesta said. “I think I had a couple chances in the past couple of games. It was just a really good feeling.”
Tommy Novak scored the first of his pair of goals at 2:49, scoring off an odd man rush for a 1-1 tie.
“It was kind of a weird game,” Novak said. “Probably not our best, a little sloppy, but we had a lot of chances. Luckily, I got two to go in.”
Josi potted his first at 4:19, for a 2-1 for a 2-1 lead on a power play strike.
Novak collected his double at 13:25 for a 3-1 advantage to the Preds, scoring off a shot from the left side.
“To get emotionally invested in these games is hard for our group, especially with where we’ve gotten,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think we did enough just to win the game. It wasn’t particularly our sharpest detailed game, but I thought some guys created. I thought the power play was good
The Blue Jackets dropped to 26-43-12.
“I think there were parts of the game where we competed, and there were parts of the game where we got away from our game a little bit,” Columbus’ Justin Danforth said. “This team is just too good. They’ll make you pay; their transition is great. They move the puck really fast. They made us pay when we made mistakes.”
Nashville pushed their lead to 4-1 when Cody Glass scored at 4:52 of the middle frame, scoring off a deflection.
Columbus got one back on a marker from Alexandre Texier at 10:23 for a 4-2 deficit, scoring off a breakaway.
Filip Forsberg replied for the Predators at 13:12, scoring off the power play for a 5-2 lead.
“I thought we moved it pretty well tonight,” Josi said. “I think especially on that second goal, we had a couple of quick passes and then [Forsberg] got open. I think just quick puck movement. Even yesterday [in a 5-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks], we moved it around pretty well and got some goals. We’re going to need that in the playoffs.”
Josi collected his double at 15:09 of the second period for a 6-2 lead.
The Blue Jackets tried to make it interesting in the third period.
Trey Fix-Wolansky scored a double in the final period to close the gap to a 6-4 final.
He scored his first at 6:02 to make it 6-3 to Nashville.
He picked up his double at 19:30 for the 6-4 final count on the scoreboard.
“That was a big weight lifted off my shoulders,” Fix-Wolansky said. “I’ve been trying to buy one for a while, so it was nice to see two go in tonight.”
Jet Greaves made 31 saves. in the loss.
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