Nashville has Columbus' Number Again, Again and Again
by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Paul Kariya scored a goal and set up another leading the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The announced crowd was 16,174, but seems that at least 4,000 came dressed as empty blue seats.

This was Nashville's third win against the Jackets in the past four games. Due to a scheduling quirk, this is the first of two 'playoff series' type contests between these two teams with the next one being a three game in six day series in January.

Columbus (5-13-1). playing without star Rick Nash out due to a hamstring injury, relied upon quick shifts and ever changing lines. The only two bright spots were David Vyborny playing like a man possessed to generate production for the team and Jason Chimera who scored the only Jackets goal with 14.3 seconds remaining in the game.

Columbus played with no offensive energy early, taking only ten shots through the second period, ending the game with 24 shots on goal. Columbus

"Instead of just doing things, we are thinking and second guessing – opposed to playing straight-line hockey," said Jackets winger Manny Malhotra

Nashville (13-4-2) looked like a playoff team scoring off tic-tac-toe plays and physical presence buzzing the net all night long. Nashville goaltender Thomas Vankoun earned his second shutout of the season and his third victory over the Jackets in a span of a week.

Kariya's goal at 9:49 in the first period was a highlight reel shot. He split the defense and took a pass from Martin Erat and was left one on one with Columbus goalie Fredrik Norrena. Kariya did a bit of a shoulder shake and then let loose his lethal backhand over the shoulder of Norrena.