COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mikhail Grigorenko scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 comeback victory over Nashville, preventing the Predators from clinching a playoff spot Wednesday night.
Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals, including an empty-netter with less than a second remaining, and Jack Roslovic also scored for the Blue Jackets, who stopped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in 12 games. It also marked the fifth straight game (2-0-3) Columbus has earned a point.
Elvis Merzlikins ended with 30 saves for his eighth win.
Tanner Jeannot and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Nashville, which sits in fourth place in the Central Division. The Predators maintained a four-point lead over Dallas, which lost to Tampa Bay 6-2. The Stars have one game in hand.
Nashville took a 1-0 lead first on Jeannot’s first-period goal, but Roslovic pulled Columbus even with his 100th career point at 17:52.
Jarnkrok put the Predators back on top with 2:07 left in the second. But that lead was short-lived as Oliver Bjorkstrand tied it at 2 with a wrister from the right circle at 19:09.
Grigorenko put Columbus ahead for good at 13:50 of the third when he redirected Vladislav Gavrikov’s shot.
Juuse Saros stopped 23 shots for Nashville and gave up more than two goals for just the sixth time this season.
UP NEXT
Predators: Home against Carolina on Friday night.
Blue Jackets: Home against Chicago on Friday night.
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