Blue Jackets-Predators: Columbus Remains Under Nashville's Spell

Dan Ellis is growing to love playing the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Nashville goalie stopped 43 shots Friday for his second shutout of the Blue Jackets this week in the Predators' 2-0 win in Columbus. It was Nashville's 15th win over Columbus in their last 16 meetings.

A look at the game's stat sheet may create the impression that the Blue Jackets controlled the play.

Not so fast.

Only a handful of Columbus's 43 shots created scoring chances as Ellis welcomed shot after shot into the crest on his chest. The Blue Jackets failed to drive toward the Predators' net, taking shots from sharp angles that made Ellis's job far from difficult.

Nashville's Jordin Tootoo got under the Jackets' skin on Wednesday, winning fights against Jan Hejda and Jason Chimera, and playing to his home crowd. On Friday the Columbus faithful welcomed him with boos in his first shift.

Jared Boll returned to the lineup for Columbus and appeared to gain some early momentum when he grappled with Tootoo and brought the Nashville spark plug to the ice.

Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets failed to capitalize on this momentum.

After a scoreless first period, Nashville's Jan Hlavac and Radek Bonk scored within two minutes of each other to completely deflate Columbus. The Blue Jackets continued to fire shots at the Nashville net, but played flat and without the desire to get the better of their central division rivals.

Columbus has taken just three of a possible 16 points from Nashville this season. A shootout win in January was the only time the Jackets topped the Predators over the past two seasons.

The win vaulted Nashville into the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Blue Jackets will be watching the playoffs from home for the seventh time.