GAME DAY: Preds at Blue Jackets, March 9 | Nashville Predators – NHL.com

Key Gamers to Watch, Notable Stats vs. Columbus, Easy methods to Watch & Hear and Extra
The Nashville Predators look to increase their level streak to 11 video games after they begin a street back-to-back set on Saturday in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
A Predators win would set up the third-longest level streak in franchise historical past and additional bolster the workforce’s Wild Card place.
Puck drop at Nationwide Area is at 11:30 a.m. CT, with the sport set to broadcast on Bally Sports activities South, 102.5 The Sport and El Jefe Radio.
Right here’s the whole lot you have to know:
Filip Forsberg earned his ninth profession hat trick to energy the Nashville Predators to a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres and prolong the workforce’s level streak to 10 video games on Thursday at Bridgestone Area.
Forsberg’s first-period marker prolonged the ahead’s level streak to seven video games (7g-5a); he’s one sport away from matching a career-high eight-game level streak (4g-8a) established from April 16-29, 2022.
Gustav Nyquist assisted on all three of Forsberg’s objectives to ascertain a profession excessive (39).
Luke Evangelista tallied his second power-play purpose of the season, whereas Mark Jankowski picked up his first helper of the season aiding the purpose.
Juuse Saros made 26 saves to enhance to 27-21-3 on the season.
Nashville prolonged their level streak to 10 video games (9-0-1) and moved to 36-25-3 on the marketing campaign and 18-15-1 at house.
Forsberg leads the Predators in factors (67) and objectives (33); following Thursday’s hat trick, the ahead is tenth amongst NHL skaters in objectives.
Roman Josi leads his workforce and is fifth amongst League blueliners in assists (47); he’s tied for second amongst NHL defensemen in objectives (15).
After 51 appearances, Saros has recorded a 2.83 goals-against common and a .907 save proportion; he’s 7-0-1 in his final eight begins and posted a 1.75 goals-against common and a .940 save proportion throughout that span.
Kevin Lankinen is 8-4-0 in 17 appearances, with a 3.23 goals-against common and a .892 save proportion.
The Predators lead the NHL in hits per 60 minutes (26.7) and are second in hits (1,721) behind the Boston Bruins (1,727); defenseman Jeremy Lauzon leads the League in hits with 303.
Nashville is fourth within the Central Division with 75 factors; the Predators at the moment maintain the Western Convention’s first Wild Card spot.
The Blue Jackets enter Saturday’s contest trying to shut out an ideal two-game homestand, after defeating the Edmonton Oilers, 4-2, on Thursday at Nationwide Area.
Johnny Gaudreau leads the Jackets in factors (45) and assists (35), whereas Boone Jenner leads the workforce in objectives (19).
Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is 12-13-7 after 35 appearances, with a 3.21 goals-against common and a .904 save proportion. Backup netminder Daniil Tarasov is 6-8-2 after 16 appearances, with a 3.48 goals-against common and a .894 save proportion.
Columbus is eighth within the Metropolitan Division with 54 factors and a 12-16-4 file at house.
The Predators are 67-23-(1)-8 all-time in opposition to the Blue Jackets, together with a 26-17-(0)-5 file on the street. That is the primary of two matchups between Nashville and Columbus in 2023-24; it’s the first and solely at Nationwide Area.
Nashville went 1-1-0 in opposition to Columbus final season, incomes a 2-1 victory in the newest assembly on Jan. 17, 2023. The Predators are 2-2-1 of their final 5 video games in opposition to the Blue Jackets; they’re 6-3-1 of their final 10; and 2-2-1 of their final 5 on the street.
Nashville’s 67 all-time wins in opposition to Columbus are its most in opposition to a single opponent in franchise historical past. Within the Predators’ 51 house video games vs. Columbus, they’ve solely misplaced six occasions in regulation, with two of these losses coming within the first three matchups between the 2 groups. Nashville’s 41 wins in opposition to Columbus at Bridgestone Area are its most in opposition to a single NHL opponent on house ice. The Predators posted a 17-game house successful streak in opposition to the Blue Jackets that spanned 5 seasons from 2006-11.
Three of the 9 most winningest goaltenders in opposition to Columbus in NHL historical past performed for the Predators: Pekka Rinne (22), Tomas Vokoun (20) and Chris Mason (16). Nashville and Columbus have been each a part of the Central Division from the 2000-01 season by means of the 2012-13 season and in 2020-21.
Protection for Saturday’s sport begins at 11 a.m. CT with the Predators LIVE! pregame present on Bally Sports activities South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley. Play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic and analyst Chris Mason can have the decision on the tv aspect.
Pete Weber and Hal Gill will name the sport on 102.5 The Sport and the Predators Radio Community, with pregame, postgame and intermission protection by Max Herz starting one hour earlier than puck drop. The sport may even be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM. (El partido también se transmite en español por El Jefe en 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM y 810 AM.)

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