Preds Conclude 2021 Calendar with Shootout Loss in Columbus

A shootout was needed to decide Nashville's final game of the 2021 calendar year, but the Predators ultimately fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets by a 4-3 final on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
The result sees the Preds earn just one out of a possible four points in their back-to-back set in Washington and Columbus, and although the visitors weren't able to find the desired result on either night, they certainly weren't displeased with their overall efforts.

"I thought we played a really good game," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "The biggest lesson out of it is I just thought in the third [period], we didn't play as aggressive as we needed to with the lead, and they wound up tying it on a mistake. But if you look at the game and the style of game and opportunities, shot attempts, chances for, zone time, possession time, we did a lot of really good things. I commend our guys' effort and intensity on a back-to-back… I really liked our team, loved our competitiveness, liked the way we played, so we'll go from there."
The Predators didn't wait long to take a 1-0 lead on Thursday - just 2:50 into the contest, to be exact - as Michael McCarron found twine. Winger Matt Luff, who was recalled from the taxi squad prior to puck drop, found McCarron in the slot, and the 6-foot-6 centerman went top shelf on Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for his first tally as a member of the Preds.

Columbus tied the game before the opening period was out as Boone Jenner tipped a shot past Preds goaltender David Rittich, and Patrik Laine gave the Jackets their first lead of the night early in the second stanza.
But later in the middle frame, Preds winger Tanner Jeannot earned a decided victory in a scrap with Columbus defenseman Andrew Peeke, and that seemed to spark the visitors. With less than five minutes to play in the period, Matt Duchene stickhandled in the high slot and found Nick Cousins on the left wing, and No. 21 picked a corner from a nearly impossible angle to even the score. Then, less than 40 seconds later, Duchene picked up another helper as Ryan Johansen converted on a power play to give Nashville the lead through 40 minutes.

In the third period, Alexandre Texier capitalized on a turnover to force overtime, and after the Preds killed a penalty in the extra session, Columbus eventually earned the extra point in a five-round shootout that saw Rittich stop three of five Blue Jackets shooters.
"I think our competitiveness and passion, we've been doing a really good job there," Preds forward Mikael Granlund said. "There's some details we need to be better at, not let the other team get [easy chances], that's something we've got to get better at, but the game is there. The boys are really going hard, playing hard for each other, and that's a sign of a good team. So, we've just got to keep doing that and get better in some details and try to get those wins again. Obviously one out of four [points] is just not good enough for us, but now we have the next one coming up Saturday."

That contest on New Year's Day comes at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, and as the calendar flips to 2022, the Predators will be anxious to build off of their past two outings as they look to get back in the win column.
"When you talk about identity and you watch tonight's game, by probably every statistical measure, we certainly deserved to win," Hynes said. "Now, we didn't find a way to do it, and as I said, I think you look at the competitiveness, guys battling in the overtime to kill the penalty, a back-to-back coming off the long break versus a rested team… When you look at [our] team, the last two games, [the identity is] clearly there. I really appreciate the way that the guys are working. We got one point, should have gotten two tonight, so we've got to keep going. We've got a huge game against Chicago on Saturday, and we'll just continue to move forward… The most important thing you've got to remember in this - you may not win every game, but you don't want to lose your identity, and our identity is there."

Notes:

Prior to Thursday's game, the Preds recalled forward Matt Luff from the taxi squad and reassigned forward Mathieu Olivier to the taxi squad.
Captain Roman Josi, as well as forwards Colton Sissons and Tommy Novak, all spent their second straight game on the COVID protocol list.
The Predators have played their last game in 2021, and they'll turn the calendar to 2022 by hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena on New Year's Day with a 1 p.m. CT puck drop.