Blue Jackets shake off rust, upend Nashville Predators in shootout

It wasn’t a work of art, but it didn’t need to be.

After not playing in two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Blue Jackets weren’t looking for style points Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The only points they needed were the two they notched with a 4-3 shootout victory at Nationwide Arena that included a couple style points thrown in for good measure.

Boone Jenner, Patrik Laine and Alexandre Texier scored in regulation for the Blue Jackets, including Texier’s tying goal to make it 3-3 with 6:27 left in the third period. Elvis Merzlikins earned the win in net with 31 saves plus three more in the five-round shootout, which included goals by Texier and Gustav Nyquist against Nashville goalie David Rittich.

“I think there was a stretch before this game where we only had a couple wins in like 10 games, so it was obviously big,” said Laine, who played for the first time since straining an oblique Nov. 3 and scored to put the Blue Jackets up 2-1 just 24 seconds into the second period. “We made a nice comeback in the third and hopefully we can build off this game.”

Michael McCarron, Nick Cousins and former Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen scored for the Predators (19-11-2), who got 26 saves from Rittich in the finale of a back-to-back they started Wednesday with a 5-3 loss at the Washington Capitals.

Nashville took a 3-2 lead late in the second on back-to-back goals 35 seconds apart by Nick Cousins and Ryan Johansen, but Texier pulled Columbus even in the third. The Blue Jackets outshot the Predators 4-1 in overtime, but couldn’t take advantage of an OT power play before the game went to the shootout.

Nashville built a 26-13 shot advantage in the first two periods, controlling the bulk of action, but the third period belonged to Columbus with a 12-7 edge in shots and Texier’s goal.

“Guys were trying,” coach Brad Larsen said. “It was just hard to really get anything going offensively, so by the third there, I thought we finally found a little pace to our game and some competitiveness — which was lacking in the first two periods. I thought we played a much better third period and overtime.”

Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine scores goal, savors win on emotional night

Laine hadn’t played in two months because of his injury and had to convince Larsen he was ready to play with multiple talks before and after practices.

He’d also mourned the death of his father, Harri, during the time he was out and just wanted to get back to doing what he does best — playing hockey. His father was on his mind before driving to the arena and the sound of Laine’s voice following the game told its own story of how emotional it was for him to play again.

“That was probably one of the only games my dad’s never seen me play, so it was definitely emotional before the game, at home, before I (came) here,” he said. “I was just trying to make him proud. I know he always wished for me to work hard every time I go out there and that was kind of my mentality today. It was nice to be back.”

Along with his goal, Laine led all players with seven shots on goal and 14 attempts. His goal was his fourth in 10 games played. Whatever he said to Larsen must’ve been convincing and strongly stated, since Laine issued a tongue-in-cheek apology at the morning skate.

“(I’m) thankful for letting me play,” Laine said. “I’ve been dying to get on the ice with the boys and play again. Obviously, it’s fun to get this opportunity to play again and … sorry ‘Lars’ for being all over you for this, but it will be worth it.”

Laine made good on those words.

“He came to me the day before the game and he said it … he said, ‘I won’t let you down,’ and he didn’t,” Larsen said. “I’m really proud of him, because this kid’s been through a lot this year. He has. He had a heck of a game.”

Patrik Laine rusty on one-timers in return for Blue Jackets

Following the morning skate, Laine was asked if it was difficult to get his booming shot dialed into its most accurate level after such a long time off.

“No, it’s like riding a bike,” he said. “You’re always going to remember how to do it. It’ll take a couple reps probably. In the practices, I’ve been feeling good and it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Turned out it was an issue.

Laine missed the net four times with one-time blasts, including three during the Blue Jackets’ overtime power play. Jakub Voracek and Zach Werenski kept feeding him setup passes and the puck kept sailing wide of the left post from the left circle.

Laine couldn’t help jabbing at himself afterward.

“I think I jinxed myself this morning,” he said, smirking. “I said it wasn’t going to take any time to hit the net, but I guess I was lying and I think I need to work on my accuracy a little bit. I think I had probably 15 attempts during that OT and probably one or two of them hit the net. That’s not good enough, so I’ve definitely got to work on that.”

Laine also got in a good-natured chirp about Voracek, who set up Laine’s goal with a nice feed to the front of the net. It was the 22nd assist of the season for Voracek, who has one goal and leads the NHL with 18 primary assists.

“I wish Jake would shoot those every now and then, but I was kind of expecting him to pass it back and it worked out,” Laine said. “And that’s why he has 10 goals in his career and 1,000 assists. So, he knows what he’s doing.”

Voracek, for the record, has 217 goals, 544 assists and 761 points in 997 career games.

Alexandre Texier impresses with more key goals for Blue Jackets

Starting the season, Texier struggled to make a dent while centering the top line.

After moving to the right wing of what used to be the fourth line, skating with Eric Robinson and center Sean Kuraly, the 23-year old French forward began to shine with the puck on his stick.

The result is what he’s now showing while becoming one of the Jackets’ top forwards. He’s scoring goals, creating scoring chances, breaking up plays defensively and killing penalties. Texier has also scored a few memorable goals, including a shorthanded dazzler in Las Vegas and his tying goal in this game — which he scored after picking off a pass in the Nashville zone.

That’s not to mention his shootout goal, which was scored with the same “magic wand” move he successfully debuted against the Florida Panthers last season. Texier pulled it out of his bag of tricks Sunday in a practice shootout, beating rookie Daniil Tarasov with a shovel between the pads, so it wasn’t surprising to see him try it again in a game.

Texier beat Rittich this time for just the second shootout goal of his NHL career. Both were scored with a move that has yet to earn a title.

“There’s no name,” Texier said, smiling. “It’s a secret.”

The secret might out now with NHL goalies.

“I won’t do it again if I don’t have confidence,” Texier said. “I just went there and it was open, so ... I did it once (last year). Why not two?”

Larsen has doubts that it will work in the future, now that he's pulled it off twice, but there's only one way to find out.

“Goalies watch video too, so this might be two-and-done,” he said. “I don’t know if he’ll get a third, but I’ll never say ‘never.’ It’s a confident move. He trusts it, obviously. It’s not an easy move either. I’m sure kids will be trying it now to see if they can pull it off. We need to get a name for it now. Maybe someone else has done it. They might call it ‘The Tex,’ I’m not sure.”

Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner returns from COVID list with goal, assist

Jenner was one of the first three Blue Jackets placed on the NHL’s COVID protocols list when he, Jack Roslovic and Gabriel Carlsson began their quarantines Dec. 19 — three days after returning from a loss in Edmonton to conclude a road trip.

He didn’t get out of isolation until Wednesday, which meant the captain only got one full practice plus Thursday’s morning skate to get back up to speed. Jenner used a stationary bike and “some weights” to keep himself in shape during quarantine and it looks like it paid off.

Jenner scored the Jackets’ first goal to tie the Predators 1-1 just 6:26 into the game, parking himself in front of Nashville’s net and tipping a shot by Vladislav Gavrikov past Rittich for his team-leading 12th goal.

Jenner struggled on faceoffs in the first two periods, but had more success in the third in a facet of the game he usually dominates. He also added a second point with an assist on Laine’s goal.

“It felt good to get some game action after a couple of weeks,” said Jenner, who had a cut over his right eye from an errant elbow. “You want to get into it early, get the legs into it, so I just felt better as the game went along and it was (that way) for our whole team too.”

Gregory Hofmann leaves team for personal reason

Gregory Hofmann was a healthy scratch. A representative of the team’s public relations department said he’s not with the team for personal reasons. No specifics were given and it’s unclear when the first-year Swiss forward will return.

Hoffman has two goals, five assists and seven points in 24 games. He skated in all four practices this week prior to the game.

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets shake off rust, upend Nashville Predators in shootout