Grigorenko, Bjorkstrand lift Blue Jackets past Predators 4-2

<p>COLUMBUS, Ohio &mdash; Mikhail Grigorenko scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 comeback victory over Nashville, preventing the Predators from clinching a playoff spot Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals, including an empty-netter with less than a second remaining, and Jack Roslovic also scored for the Blue Jackets, who stopped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in 12 games. It also marked the fifth straight game (2-0-3) Columbus has earned a point.</p>
<p>Elvis Merzlikins ended with 30 saves for his eighth win.</p>
<p>Tanner Jeannot and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Nashville, which sits in fourth place in the Central Division. The Predators maintained a four-point lead over Dallas, which lost to Tampa Bay 6-2. The Stars have one game in hand. </p>
<p>Nashville took a 1-0 lead first on Jeannot’s first-period goal, but Roslovic pulled Columbus even with his 100th career point at 17:52. </p>
<p>Jarnkrok put the Predators back on top with 2:07 left in the second. But that lead was short-lived as Oliver Bjorkstrand tied it at 2 with a wrister from the right circle at 19:09.</p>
<p>Grigorenko put Columbus ahead for good at 13:50 of the third when he redirected Vladislav Gavrikov’s shot.</p>
<p>Juuse Saros stopped 23 shots for Nashville and gave up more than two goals for just the sixth time this season.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Predators: Home against Carolina on Friday night.</p>
<p>Blue Jackets: Home against Chicago on Friday night.</p>
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