Predators recover, defeat Blue Jackets in OT on Josi goal

COLUMBUS -- Roman Josi scored his second goal 3:24 into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Monday.

Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen each scored a goal and had an assist for the Predators (29-22-2), who blew a three-goal lead in the third period. Juuse Saros made 29 saves.
"Being up 3-0 in the third you want to bring it home, but it didn't happen for us tonight," Josi said. "It was huge for our guys to regroup in overtime and start fresh. It's a tie game. Both teams have the same chance. It doesn't matter what happened in the game."
The Predators hold a four-point lead over the fifth-place Dallas Stars for the fourth and final Stanley Cup Playoffs spot in the eight-team Discover Central Division. Nashville has three games remaining. Dallas has four. The Stars lost to the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime Monday.
Emil Bemstrom scored a natural hat trick in the third period for the Blue Jackets (16-25-12). Michael Del Zotto had two assists and Elvis Merzlikins made 34 saves.
"I'm just happy to score some goals," Bemstrom said. "We didn't win the game, but I think we played a pretty decent game."

The Blue Jackets are 1-8-3 in their past 12 games and 3-14-4 in their past 21.
The Predators have won four of five and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.
"This time of year, like the playoffs, you may not play your best game," Predators coach John Hynes said. "You may be in a situation where like tonight we had the lead and we gave the lead back into a tie game but I think the most important thing obviously is you have to find ways to win,"
The teams play again here Wednesday.
"This is the best time of the year. This is great," Forsberg said. "You want to play these types of games. … They mean so much."
Bemstrom scored at 1:54 of the third to make it 3-1. His first shot was saved but he batted in the rebound at the left post. The goal was upheld after being reviewed to see whether it crossed the goal line and if it had been hit with a high stick.
He made it 3-2 at 7:26 from the left circle and tied it 3-3 from the left dot with a power-play goal at 15:07. It was his first NHL hat trick.
"Hopefully [I'll] build some confidence over the next three games and be confident next year," Bemstrom said.
Bemstrom missed 21 games since March 18 with a lower-body injury before returning Saturday in a 2-1 overtime loss at the Carolina Hurricanes.
"He can shoot the puck, and it's not a secret it's been a tough year for a lot of guys with everything going on," Del Zotto said. "For him to perform the way he did tonight, I'm super proud of him."
Forsberg gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 9:01 of the second period, scoring from the slot on a rebound of a shot by Ryan Ellis.

Forsberg's 12th goal of the season was his first since returning Saturday in a 1-0 overtime win against the Stars after missing 17 games with an upper-body injury.
Johansen made it 2-0 at 11:29 with a power-play goal. Josi extended the lead to 3-0 at 19:16.
"It's definitely been a lot of hard work and definitely with the start we had into the season obviously it didn't look great for us and we kind of turned it around," Josi said. "I think you've got to give credit to everyone that came up and played. We had a lot of injuries."

NOTES: Bemstrom scored the Blue Jackets' sixth natural hat trick and first since Brandon Saad on April 2, 2016, in a 5-1 win at the Carolina Hurricanes. ... Nashville is 6-1-0 vs. the Blue Jackets this season. … Columbus has played beyond regulation in their past four games (1-0-3). … Predators forward Colton Sissons was scratched with an upper-body injury. He was replaced by forward Nick Cousins. Cousins had an assist on Josi's first goal. … Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine returned after missing one game because of a non-COVID-19-related illness. He played 18:37 and took one shot.