FINAL: Blue Jackets 3, Predators 0

The Blue Jackets scored once in each period on the way to a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
Game in a Paragraph
As it has often done this year, the Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but unlike the last three games, Columbus didn't give it away in the second, instead extending the advantage to 2-0. Columbus then survived a Nashville push early in the third and finished things off with an empty-net goal.

Quote of the Game
Head coach John Tortorella: "I'm not going to go into a negative thought about our game because I thought there was some good things that happened in (the defensive) part of the game. The first two periods, there wasn't a whole bunch of offense by either team, and we found a way to win a game. That's very important for us to get two points here no matter how ugly it was."
CBJ Standouts

Quick Recap
A generally sleepy first period picked up as time went on, including one end-to-end sequence where Nashville goalie Juuse Saros made a nice stop on Mikhail Grigorenko off a feed from Jack Roslovic, while Merzlikins was helped out by David Savard on the other side when the burly defenseman blocked a shot by Luke Kunin with the CBJ goalie scrambling to recover from a poke check.
And Columbus' strong first-period goal-scoring record continued, but it took until 16.8 seconds to go for the Blue Jackets to make it 1-0. Atkinson took a pass from Patrik Laine, flew up the right wing and let go a shot from the right circle that went off the skate of diving defenseman Matt Benning and popped into the air, landed in the crease behind the befuddled Saros and bounded into the net.
Columbus had been outscored 26-9 in the second period coming into the game, but Nashville was on the wrong end of a 21-6 margin, so something had to give. And it was the Blue Jackets who won that battle, extending the lead to 2-0 when Domi scored just 4:56 into the period. Riley Nash won a faceoff back to Seth Jones, who fed Domi for a one-timer from the right boards that got past Saros. The goal was reviewed to see if it went in off an official, but it stood to double the CBJ lead.
The Blue Jackets had some other chances as the period went by, with a potential breakaway for Atkinson whistled down for a tight offside call, and No. 13 also being denied by Saros on a 2-on-1 late in the period.
Nashville had the better of the puck for the first 10 minutes of the third but never got that great chance to get back in the game, and Columbus salted things away when Robinson fought through a check and swiped home an empty-net goal from the neutral zone with 2:31 to go.
3 Takeaways
1. Better structure: Columbus gave up seven goals on Monday night and zero tonight, which in some ways speaks as much to the randomness of this sport as anything else. But it was also a better defensive performance from the Blue Jackets, who focused on defensive positioning during a video session and in practice on Wednesday, with immediate results. "In one part of the game, just as far as how we entered back in our end zone, our positioning, I thought was much better tonight," Tortorella said before adding a quip. "Obviously in the third period, we had a lot of practice at it. We spent a lot of time in (our defensive zone, which I wasn't thrilled with." Nevertheless, while it wasn't perfect, it was definitely an improvement as the team was able to earn its first blanking of the year.
2. Elvis gets the donut: Well, check that. All fans get a free donut at participating central Ohio Tim Hortons locations tomorrow thanks to the win (Roosters' chili, Jet's Pizza and Arby's curly fries are also on the menu as the
Jackets hit all their in-game promotional offers in the victory
). How about that plug?? Anyway, a tip of the Kepi to Merzlikins, who turned aside all 32 shots the Predators sent his way while making his first start since Jan. 31. His rebound control continued to need some work, but he was also solid positionally, battled when he had to and also took a few bumps from the Predators but kept on playing. Still, the goalie thinks he has even better inside of him. "I didn't feel really well," he said. "I am really happy for the win for the points and obviously a shutout, but really, the team helped me. I had too many rebounds that went off me, and they took care of it."
3. Cam's on fire: The funny thing is Atkinson said he'd probably catch fire after he got his 200th goal -- sometimes those milestone tallies are hard to come by, then you really get going once the anticipation is gone -- and he's done just that. Atkinson scored the 200th career marker Feb. 4 vs. Dallas, then didn't score in the next game. Since then, he has goals in five straight games, and it's fair to say he's getting some of the puck luck he didn't earlier this year (or even last year). Tonight's goal was a bit fluky -- the deflection off Benning's skate caused Saros to totally lose sight of the puck -- but you don't get bounces like that if you're not in a good spot and putting the puck on net. "That is a strange one for sure, but when you're hot, you're hot," he said. "You just shoot the puck and good things happen. It wasn't the prettiest but I'll take that and run away with it forever." That top line continues to chip in on seemingly a nightly basis, a key for any team with big hopes.
Notable
Columbus has scored first in 14 of 18 games and outscored teams 22-10 in first period. … Atkinson's streak of five games in a row with a goal is the second longest of his career after a seven-game streak two seasons ago that matches Geoff Sanderson's mark for the franchise record. … Jones now has points in seven of the last eight games, posting a 1-7-8 line in that span. ... Laine is in the midst of a four-game point streak (1-3-4). ... Robinson has three goals on the year, including two empty-netters. ... Grigorenko earned an assist on Robinson's goal in his return to the lineup. ... The Blue Jackets have now won the last two games between the teams in Nationwide Arena. ... Nashville's 23rd-ranked power play was 0-for-1, while Columbus did not have a power play. ... It is just the second of Columbus' eight wins this year to be by multiple goals. ... The Blue Jackets had big edges in hits (37-23) and blocked shots (15-6).
Roster Report
Columbus made two changes to the skater lineup while also starting Merzlikins in net. Grigorenko went in at wing in place of Stefan Matteau, while Scott Harrington entered the line in place of Dean Kukan on defense. Kukan and Zach Werenski (lower body) were the scratches.
Up Next
Columbus returns faces Nashville again on Saturday night.