Pro Sports

Richardson scores go-ahead goal as Preds beat Columbus 5-2

Posted January 17, 2021 6:00 am

By TERESA M. WALKER

Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33) congratulates goaltender Juuse Saros (74) after a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Nashville Predators are showing scoring depth, good goaltending and an ability to finish.

It's all part of why they're off to an undefeated start.

Brad Richardson scored the go-ahead goal with 9 minutes left, and the Predators beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 Saturday night to sweep the season-opening, two-game series.

Colton Sissons, Luke Kunin and Filip Forsberg also scored in the third period, and Rocco Grimaldi had a goal for Nashville. Goalie Juuse Saros made 42 saves.

'œWe've had some timely goals and some key saves from Juuse,'ť Sissons said of another strong third period. "He was unbelievable tonight, and just having contributions from different guys throughout the lineup it's been there so far. Hopefully we can keep it up.'ť

Columbus outshot Nashville 44-33, and Saros made 15 of 16 saves in the third.

'œI'm feeling good,'ť Saros said. 'œIt's a good start, two wins. But obviously it's a lot of hockey to be played in a short time, so you just try to focus on getting better every day and every game.'ť

The Predators now have won seven of their last eight against Columbus in Nashville, a nice omen for the former Central Division rivals reunited in this pandemic-affected season.

Columbus captain Nick Foligno and Alexandre Texier each scored a goal, and Michael Del Zotto had two assists. The Blue Jackets are 0-2 for the fourth time in six seasons, but coach John Tortorella said he saw some encouraging play.

'œWe developed 25 scoring chances,'ť Tortorella said. 'œDo we need to clean up some stuff? Sure, but I'm encouraged by a lot of different things with our hockey club tonight.'ť

Similar to opening night when Nashville won 3-1 Thursday night, these teams went into the third period tied at 1. Forsberg put Nashville ahead grabbing the puck and going up the left boards before putting a wrister past Elvis Merzlikins' glove.

Texier tied it up at 2 at 5:47 of the third, deflecting a shot from Liam Foudy. But Richardson put a wrister over Merzlikins for his first goal since signing with Nashville. Kunin scored from the slot at 14:27, and Sissons got Nashville's fourth goal of the period 55 seconds later.

'œIt's nice to chip in when you can that's for sure,'ť Richardson said.

Foligno put Columbus up 1-0, the second straight game the Blue Jackets scored first. Saros stopped Del Zotto's shot, but Foligno tapped in the rebound behind the goalie for the easy goal at 7:58.

Grimaldi tied it up less than two minutes later. He got the puck from Ryan Ellis and skated up the right boards before beating Merzlikins glove-side with a slap shot from the right circle.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN

Columbus and Nashville were in the Central Division between 2000-01 and 2012-13, and the Predators came into Saturday night 60-20-(1)-7 all-time against the Blue Jackets. The Predators also had a record of 36-6-(1)-3 record on home ice in Nashville.

DEPTH ON DISPLAY

Eleven different Predators had a point in this game, including Matt Duchene to celebrate his 30th birthday. Nashville also had 15 different players register at least one shot.

'œIt's good to see because it's something where you have to be a complete team to win, and we're going to need to be a complete team to win whether we play defense or tonight we got offensive contributions throughout the lineup,'ť Nashville coach John Hynes said. 'œThat's a good sign moving forward.'ť

TAXI TAXI

The Predators recalled forward Mathieu Olivier from the taxi squad before this game. Olivier made his NHL debut last season with Nashville and played in eight games. The forward was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, when his father played for the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves.

Nashville needed the body with forward Mikael Granlund arriving Friday, the Finn now in a seven-day quarantine.

WHAT'S NEXT

Columbus continues its four-game road swing to open the season Monday at Detroit.

Nashville hosts Carolina in a back-to-back Monday and Tuesday before hitting the road for the first time this season.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at https://twitter.com/TeresaMWalker

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More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Nashville Predators right wing Brad Richardson (15) is congratulated by Nick Cousins (21) after Richardson scored a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 5-2. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) and Nashville Predators right wing Brad Richardson (15) reach for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Also defending for the Predators is Brad Richardson (15). (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) slides to block a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois (18) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) looks for the rebound in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) ends up in the net as defenseman David Savard (58) and Nashville Predators center Luke Kunin (11) battle in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) shoots against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Associated Press

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