The Columbus Blue Jackets were really close to beating the Boston Bruins on Thursday, but they were unable to secure the upset. There was a lot to be encouraged about in the game, but when you've got a team that's at three wins, it's hard to take any kind of silver lining seriously. Wins are wins, and every team needs them, or at the very least, every team needs more than three of them with almost twenty games played.
On Saturday, they'll take on the Nashville Predators for the second of six meetings between the Central Division rivals. Nashville took the first meeting 3-2 on Oct. 7, with Matt Halischuk scoring the winning goal under one minute into the first period. Columbus last won on Nov. 12, when they beat the lowly Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at home. Now they've lost two straight and are reeling. Ryan Johansen is one bright spot, with three game-winning goals, but the problem is that is every win they've notched thus far.
The Predators have won two straight and are winners in seven of their last ten games, with two losses in overtime during that span. Since losing four games straight near the beginning of the season, they've become one of the hottest teams in the NHL. With Columbus coming in and taking on the Predators in their own building, this will certainly be a tough test. The game is set for 8:00 p.m. eastern.