Laine scores in return, Blue Jackets top Predators in shootout

COLUMBUS -- Patrik Laine scored in his return for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who defeated the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

Laine, who missed 19 games with an oblique injury, dedicated the game to his father, Harri, who died in November.
"That was probably one of the only games my dad's never seen me play, so it was definitely emotional before the game," Laine said. "I tried to make him proud. I know he always wished for me to work hard every time I go out there. That was kind of my mentality tonight. It was nice to be back."
Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist, and Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets (15-13-1), who were playing their first game since Dec. 16 and won for the first time since Dec. 11. Gustav Nyquist scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout.

Matt Duchene had two assists, and David Rittich made 26 saves for the Predators (19-11-2), who were coming off a 5-3 loss at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday that ended a seven-game winning streak.
"We did a lot of really good things," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "I commend our guys' effort, the intensity in a back to back. I really liked our team, loved their competitiveness, liked the way we played.
"When you talk about identity, you watch tonight's game, by probably every statistical measure we certainly deserved to win. We didn't find a way to do it."
Michael McCarron, who was recalled from the taxi squad on Wednesday, scored his first of the season to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 2:50 of the first period. He took a pass from Matt Luff on a 2-on-1 and shot glove side from the slot.
Jenner tied it 1-1 on a redirection at 6:26.
"It felt good to get some game action after a couple of weeks," Jenner said. "You want to get into it early, making some plays. The first two periods weren't as sharp as we wanted to be, we didn't do what we need to be successful. We pushed in the third and got the goal by [Alexandre] Texier, then the extra point."
Laine 24 seconds into the second period to give Columbus a 2-1 lead, finishing a give-and-go with Jakub Voracek.
"With what he's gone through with the injury and his father, I have no doubt that this was an emotional game for him, and I'm really happy for him," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said.

Nick Cousins tied it 2-2 at 15:31 of the second. Shortly after the Blue Jackets failed to capitalize on a 2-on-1, Cousins skated below the left circle and scored from a sharp angle off the right shoulder of Merzlikins.
Ryan Johansen scored 35 seconds later on a power play to give the Predators a 3-2 lead, but Texier tied it 3-3 at 13:33 off the third period with a shot through a screen off the left post.
"It was a hard-fought game. We played pretty decent, but we didn't find a way to get two points," Nashville forward Mikael Granlund said. "The game is there. The boys are going hard, playing for each other. That's the sign of a good team. We just have to keep doing that."
NOTES:Blue Jackets defenseman Adam Boqvist had an assist and was plus-2 in 18:55 of ice time in his return after missing three games because of an upper-body injury. … Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom played 12:11 in his season debut. He missed the first 28 games because of an oblique strain. … Nashville played without centers Thomas Novak and Colton Sissons, and defenseman Roman Josi because of COVID-19 protocol. Columbus played without forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eric Robinson, defenseman Gavin Bayreuther, and goalie Joonas Korpisalo. … Blue Jackets forward Gregory Hofmann is not with the team because of personal reasons.