Columbus Blue Jackets @ Nashville Predators: 4/13/24 Game Recap

 It's farewell to the black asphalt for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they tackle their final 2023-24 NHL Season Roadgame tonight in Nashville. The Predators locked up their playoff advancement last week, but that doesn't mean they're done winning games, especially on the evening of their final one at home this regular season. That said, a Blue Jacket quickly made tonight memorable for himself as he scored his first NHL Goal at 2:02; this goal belonged to James Malatesta and was also the first goal of the game. On April 13th, Justin Danforth would score his thirteenth assist this season on this James Malatesta goal. Unfortunately, the Predators would 3X Malatesta's goal. Tommy Novak would score his seventeenth goal this season at 2:49 and his eighteenth goal this season at 13:25. Between those two goals, Roman Josi would also score for the home team at 4:19. Johnny Gaudreau would shoot a puck with less than a second left in the opening period, but it would slide along the goal line and never pass it. So, the Predators would hold a two-goal lead after twenty minutes. 

At 4:52, the Predators went back to work with a fourth goal from Alexandre Carrier, giving him five this season. At 10:23, Alexander Texier decided that the best way to celebrate his 200th NHL Game was to score his twelfth goal this season, and I thought it was a great idea! Damon Severson added another assist, his nineteenth this season, off this Texier goal. The Predators would double up on the Blue Jackets, though, with the forty-seventh goal this season from Filip Forsberg at 13:12 and Roman Josi's twenty-third goal and second tonight at 15:09. With the Predators keeping the Blue Jackets from their net for the remainder of this period, the Blue Jackets would have a four-goal deficit to bounce back from in period three just to tie this game. 

Trey Fix-Wolansky was up for the challenge, scoring his first goal this season at 6:02. Of course, this was just one goal of four needed just to tie the game, but it does show that the Blue Jackets were continuing to push, especially the young players. Justin Danforth would add his second assist tonight and fourteenth this season. In addition, EErik Gudbranson's impressive season continues with his eighteenth assist this season. Juuse Saros would exit the net and game briefly for the Predators, allowing his backup, Kevin Lankinen, to take over. He'd face two shot attempts from the Blue Jackets, stopping both, before Juuse Saros would return. All would be quiet until a second goal of this game and season would come from Trey Fix-Wolansky! Justin Danforth would again have an assist, giving him three tonight and fifteen this season. When you're hot, you're hot! James Malatesta would also pick up his second assist and end the night with 1-1-2, his first multipoint night. Of course, with that goal coming at 19:30, the Blue Jackets wouldn't have time to find another two goals to tie the game, and the Predators would pull off the 6-4 win. That said, the Blue Jackets certainly made it interesting. 

Somehow, the final game this season will be Tuesday evening at Nationwide Arena. Yes, it's been a hard one. These last 81 games have not been kind to our players, with many injuries, but let's hope we send this season out on a high note. The puck will drop one last time this season at 7:00 p.m. 

Go CBJ!