Roman Josi scores twice as Predators defeat Blue Jackets

Roman Josi scored twice and added two assists as the Nashville Predators defeated the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 6-4 on Saturday.

With the win, Nashville (47-29-5, 99 points) holds a five-point lead on the Vegas Golden Knights for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Tommy Novak scored twice and added an assist, Cody Glass and Filip Forsberg also found the back of the net for Nashville, while Luke Evangelista and Gustav Nyquist each had two helpers. Juuse Saros made 31 saves for the win.

Trey Fix-Wolansky scored twice, James Malatesta and Alexandre Texier responded for the Jackets. Jet Greaves stopped 31 shots. With the loss, Columbus (26-43-12, 64 points) has lost 11 in a row on the road (0-10-1).

Fix-Wolansky tipped in a Justin Danforth pass for his first of the season at 6:02 of the third to cut Nashville's lead in half.

The Jackets forward added his second of the night with 29.9 seconds remaining, beating Saros glove side.

The Predators outscored the Jackets 3-1 in the middle frame to lead 6-2 heading to the third.

Glass gave Nashville a 4-1 lead, tipping an Alexandre Carrier shot past Greaves at 4:52 of the second.

Texier cut the Predators' lead in half, beating Saros five-hole on a breakaway at 10:23 of the second.

Forsberg restored the three-goal lead on a power play at 13:12 as Josi's pass directed off his skate and past Greaves.

Josi added his second of the night, tucking the puck in short side on Greaves at 15:09.

Columbus outshot Nashville 15-10 but trailed 3-1 after 20 minutes.

Malatesta opened the scoring at 2:04 of the first period, cutting to the slot off a Danforth faceoff win and beating Saros under the glove.

The Predators responded 45 seconds later, as Novak tipped in an Evangelista feed.

Nashville took its first lead of the game on a power play at 4:19, when Josi one-timed a Nyquist pass past Greaves.

Novak made it 3-1 by putting a wrist shot between the pads of Greaves at 13:25 of the opening period.

Carrier took a hit from Mathieu Olivier and fell awkwardly into the boards 1:42 into the third period and did not return to the game.