The Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t get the result they wanted Wednesday night, but a strong third period was enough for the team to build on.

The Jackets played solid hockey the final 20 minutes, but the Nashville Predators still left Nationwide Arena with a 4-2 victory.

"If we had played the whole game like we did the third period, we would have won that game," Jackets defenseman Adam Foote said. "The difference was that we played hard (in the third period). We have to play desperate and with urgency from the start."

Columbus outshot Nashville 16-10 in the third period, but a disallowed goal midway through the period was the difference. Dan Fritsche tapped the puck in the net, but an inadvertent whistle had blown.

"We were jumping, playing a good third period and I snuck one by the ref, I don’t think he was in the right position," Fritsche said. "They said they couldn’t review it because they don’t know if they blew the whistle or not on the review tape. We’re just not catching any breaks and it would have been nice had it been a 3-3 game."

Jeremy Stevenson, Dan Hamhuis, David Legwand and Scott Hartnell each scored for Nashville, while backup goalie Chris Mason made 35 saves.

Nikolai Zherdev and Manny Malhotra scored for the Jackets, who have lost six in a row and 11 of its last 12 games.

Nashville took an early lead as they were coming off the power play. Marek Zidlicky passed the puck up ice to Stevenson who hit a wrist shot from the right point past the extended puck of Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire at 15:01 of the first.

The Jackets tied the game 25 seconds into the second period. David Vyborny took the initial shot on Predators goaltender Chris Mason. Sergei Fedorov took the second shot off the rebound and Zherdev put the second rebound past Mason on a shot from the goal line.

Shortly after Columbus tied the game, the Predators took advantage of a power play to retake the lead. Steve Sullivan passed the puck through the crease to Hamhuis, who tapped it past Leclaire at 3:13. The Predators added a goal 57 seconds later as Legwand put one through the legs of Leclaire from between the faceoff circles.

Columbus came to life in the third period. After the disallowed goal, Malhotra tapped in a rebound off Gilbert Brule shot to pull the Jackets to a goal at

11: 03 of the third on the power play. It was the first goal of the season for Malhotra.

With the Jackets putting pressure on Mason, Adam Hall poked the puck loose and Hartnell took it up ice on an odd man rush and put a shot on Leclaire. The Ja ckets goaltender made the initial save, but Hartnell took the rebound and slapped it in to give the Predators an insurance goal.

"Nashville is a skilled team and they like to shoot the puck. ... They have a lot of good shooters," Leclaire said. "I thought I did a good job with the rebounds. I just made a little mistake at the end and it kinda cut our legs off."

Despite the late goal, Leclaire played stellar and coach Gerard Gallant said he would be back in net when the Jackets host Colorado Friday. Leclaire stopped 37 Nashville shots and according to Gallant was the only Jacket who came ready to play in the first period.

"The kid gave us a chance and he was great tonight," Gallant said. "He kept us in the game. He played hard tonight and he didn’t cost us the game. That’s for sure."

For the game, Nashville outshot Columbus 41-37. The Predators connected on one of eight power play attempts, while the Jackets scored on one of six man advantages.