Ekholm Tallies Twice in Return as Preds Beat Blue Jackets

Welcome back, Mattias Ekholm.
The Nashville blueliner scored twice in his return after a six-game absence, as the Predators topped the Columbus Blue Jackets by a 2-1 final on Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena. The result is Nashville's fourth victory in five tries against the Jackets this season, and it gives the Preds wins in three of their last four outings overall.
Ekholm's first-career multi-goal game, coupled with 29 saves from Preds goaltender Juuse Saros, saw Nashville get back on track after Thursday's loss in Detroit with a solid defensive effort.

"We're taking strides in the right way," Ekholm said. "Defensively, that's where it all starts, and even coming back from the offensive zone, we're backing each other up a lot better. We're not standing, watching and then reacting, we're kind of dictating it out there more with our skating and then automatic routes. Defensively too, we've been a lot better… This is more of the game that we need to play to win on a consistent basis, so very nice to see. I think [we've] been playing a lot better since I've been out, and again tonight, we show that we can play a really good defensive game."

"We just have to be consistent with it, it's not like the message changes," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of his team's play. "Some nights it comes down to the work ethic to get [to the net and get quality chances]… Tonight, we had a shot-first mentality. You get rewarded by going [to the net]…and we scored two net-front goals today where we had good screens, which was important, but it all starts with a shot-first mentality… It's just understanding that this is how you have to play; it's how you produce offense in this League and having the commitment to bring it night in and night out."
Cam Atkinson gave Columbus a 1-0 lead in the first period, but Ekholm tallied twice in the second stanza with almost identical attempts. Both of Ekholm's shots came from the left point with heavy traffic in front, and pucks eluded goaltender Joonas Korpisalo at 1:12 and 16:54 of the period to give the Predators their first lead after 40 minutes of the season.

"[He had a] couple goals, one laser and one muffin," Preds forward Filip Forsberg said to describe Ekholm's tallies. "But they count as much, that was good and we're happy to have him back."
"That was a pretty good explanation," Ekholm said of Forsberg's assessment. "The first one was pretty much where I wanted it, the second one was one of those you just throw there at the net and it went in. Call it a muffin, call it whatever, but happy it went in. I feel like the first, however many games I played before I got hurt, I had some looks and shots that I think normally maybe go in, and they just bounced out somehow. Tonight, there was a little bit of reward for that I guess."

Ekholm's strikes provided all the offense the Preds needed, as Saros stopped 12 more shots in the third period to give Nashville their ninth win of the campaign to bump them up to sixth in the Central Division.
Those two markers from Ekholm will stand out with a glance at the scoresheet, but those in and around the organization know the veteran blueliner does so much more, and his return to the lineup provided another boost to a team that has been pleased with their recent efforts more often than not.
"He's a great player…and what he brought tonight, he's a guy that's an offensive threat, like he was tonight," Hynes said. "And his skating, his ability to defend and play a lot of minutes, and important minutes for us; it's good to have him back."
The Predators won't be celebrating the 2-1 win for long as the second act of the back-to-back set with Columbus comes Sunday afternoon (at 2 p.m. CT), a meeting that is equally important for both clubs in the standings.
Ekholm and his teammates know, however, that Saturday's effort provided another example of the style that gives the Preds the best chance to be successful, and another opportunity to try it again isn't far away.
"We all know where we are in the standings, and that's not where we want to be," Ekholm said. "We've still got opportunities here to take strides to move up the ladder. We have a lot of games left, and there's still points to fight for, so if we can keep this momentum and play the way we have been in these last couple games here, I think we're going to have a good chance to keep climbing."

Notes:
Mattias Ekholm's first goal of the game was his 200th career point in the NHL.
Prior to Saturday's game, the Boston Bruins claimed defenseman Jarred Tinordi on waivers from Nashville.
Yakov Trenin was Nashville's lone scratch on Saturday afternoon.
Another afternoon tilt comes on Sunday between the Predators and Blue Jackets at 2 p.m. CT. Nashville's five-game homestand then continues this week as Carolina comes to town for a single meeting before the Panthers swing by for a pair.