COLUMBUS — Nick Blankenburg broke a tie with 1:23 left in the third period, and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to defeat the Nashville Predators 5-3 at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.
Blankenburg scored from a cross-ice pass off the right face-off circle Jakub Voracek to make it 4-3. Johnny Gaudreau scored his second goal of the game, and Columbus’ fourth straight, into an empty net with 46 seconds left for the 5-3 final.
“I blacked out. It’s crazy,” Blankenburg said. “I don’t even remember (the goal). That one feels good.”
Video: NSH@CBJ: Blankenburg fires home shot to take lead
Yegor Chinakhov had two assists for the second straight game, and Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets (2-3-0), who won their second in a row. Blankenburg also had an assist.
Yakov Trenin and Tanner Jeannot each had a goal and an assist, and a linemate Colton Sissons had two assists for the Predators (2-3-1), who have lost four straight. Kevin Lankinen made 37 saves.
“We’ve got to be more poised, more confident in our game, even when they’re bringing all that pressure,” Sissons said. “We can make plays without a lot of time and space and just trusting each other. We just froze up under the pressure.”
Video: NSH@CBJ: Gaudreau fires a shot home all alone
Columbus trailed 3-1 entering the third before Gaudreau cut it to 3-2 on a breakaway at 38 seconds off a pass from Blankenburg, and Justin Danforth tied it 3-3 at 12:07 on a drive to the net.
The Columbus came back to win after a two-goal deficit for a second straight game. They defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday.
“We were pushing the whole second and third periods,” Gaudreau said. “We had a lot of opportunities to score. We kept with it, kept sticking with it and got rewarded in the third.
“It’s great to see us fight back the way we did. Obviously, [falling behind] something that needs to change. If it’s Game 15, 20 and we’re still talking about it, that’s something to be a little concerned about.”
Video: NSH@CBJ: Danforth makes a move and scores a slick goal
Jeannot gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 3:16 of the first period. Capitalizing on a turnover in the neutral zone, the Predators created a rush with Sissons taking a shot that Merzlikins saved off his chest. The puck eventually reached Jeannot at the right post and he took two whacks to score his second goal in as many games.
Former Columbus forward Ryan Johansen extended the lead to 2-0 at 10:45, scoring on the rebound by a shot Matthias Ekholm. Johansen was falling away from Merzlikins when he scored on the backhand.
Roman Jose had a goal disallowed for Nashville at 4:29 of the second period when Columbus coach Brad Larsen successfully challenged for offside.
Jake Bean cut it to 2-1 at 16:09 from the high slot on a shot that hit the left post.
“We played a loose game,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “We got up early in the game and then I think in the second period alone we gave up seven odd-man rushes – five [at] 5-on-5 and two on the power play. … If you want to play that type of game, odds are you’re going to lose.”
Video: NSH@CBJ: Johansen doubles the lead with a backhander
Trenin made it 3-1 at 17:38 before the Blue Jackets rallied.
“We knew we were playing well after the second period,” Danforth said. “We stuck with it. We felt good going into the third period. We weren’t panicking.”
Blankenburg’s game-winner was the defenseman’s second goal in nine NHL games (seven last season).
“He’s a fun player to watch,” Gaudreau said. “Great to see a kid come out of college (University of Michigan) and jump right into the NHL. He sees the ice so well. He’s physical, smart in his D-zone.”
NOTES: After Johansen’s goal, the Predators did not have a shot on goal for a span of 9:51, until Josi’s shot on the power play at 36 seconds of the second period. … Gaudreau has six points (four goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak. All of his goals have come in the Blue Jackets’ three home games.
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