Merzlikins makes 32 saves, Blue Jackets shut out Predators

COLUMBUS -- Elvis Merzlikins made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Nashville Predators 3-0 at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

"I had too many rebounds in front of me, and [the team] took care of me," Merzlikins said. "They blocked the shots when I wasn't there."
Cam Atkinson scored for the fifth straight game for Columbus (8-6-4), which plays Nashville again here Saturday.
Juuse Saros made 19 saves for Nashville (6-10-0), which has lost five of six while dealing with five players on injured reserve.
"We're focused on our team and focused on trying to get better, and as a coach and players, you're in it," Predators coach John Hynes said. "You know you're in it every day, you're working together, you're doing the right things, and I believe we have a good group and it's about the guys that are here and we'll continue to work with the group that we have and stay focused on the present."

Merzlikins made his first start since Jan. 31 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He sustained an upper-body injury Feb. 3 during practice and was placed on injured reserve until Feb. 11.
"Good for him," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "I know he's been chomping at the bit to get back in the game, and I thought he played really well."
Until the injury, Merzlikins had been alternating with Joonas Korpisalo and said he hopes that will change in his favor.
"It's hard to jump in and play. You [play] maybe a good game and then you're skipping one game," Merzlikins said. "This year it's a little bit different because the games are really close. I don't really like that. Again, it's not my decision. It's the decision of the coach and I'll take whatever he decides."
Atkinson scored his seventh goal of the season at 19:43 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. His shot from the right circle went off the skate blade of Nashville defenseman Matt Benning as he went to the ice for the block. Saros lost sight of the puck and it floated over his head.
"That's a strange one, for sure," Atkinson said. "But when you're hot, you're hot. You just shoot the puck and good things happen.
"It was one of those slow-motion ones. He makes a block and I can see it going up in the air and the goalie lost sight of it. It wasn't my prettiest, but I'll take that and run away with it forever."

Atkinson has nine points (five goals, four assists) in a five-game point streak.
"The first period was good," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "We had a lot of zone time, created some chances. All of a sudden, they got the goal late."
Max Domi made it 2-0 at 4:56 of the second period. The play was reviewed to see if Domi's shot hit linesman Ryan Galloway, but video review confirmed it didn't.
Eric Robinson scored into an empty net at 17:29 of third period for the 3-0 final.
Nashville outshot Columbus 13-4 in the third period.
"The best thing for us now is we've got to find ways to get inside, create some chances," Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki said. "It's not just the forwards. It's [defensemen] finding lanes, getting pucks to the net."
NOTES: Merzlikins had five shutouts last season as a rookie. … Atkinson's goal streak is the second-longest of his NHL career. He scored in seven straight (nine goals) from Nov. 10-24, 2018, to tie Geoff Sanderson (eight goals, Nov. 5-17, 2002) for the Blue Jackets record. … Columbus defenseman Seth Jones had an assist and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in the past eight games. … Nashville played its first game since a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. It had games Monday and Tuesday at the Dallas Stars postponed by bad weather.