Streaking Predators take on much-improved Blue Jackets

The surging Nashville Predators have played themselves into the thick of the playoff race.

Though set to miss the postseason for a fourth straight year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have fared well of late.

Amid a 10-game point streak and looking for their sixth consecutive road victory, the Predators look to keep the host Blue Jackets from a fourth win in five games Saturday.

Nashville has outscored opponents 44-19 during its 9-0-1 stretch that has propelled the club to the top of the wild-card standings in the Western Conference. After their eight-game winning streak ended with Tuesday's 4-3 overtime home loss to Montreal, the Predators bounced back to post a 4-2 home victory against Buffalo on Thursday.

"When we do things that make us successful, that recipe that we do it with, we're a pretty good team," Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. "And, I think we proved that over the last 10 games."

Star Filip Forsberg continues to pace the Predators' success and has been one of the NHL's best while posting seven goals and five assists during a seven-game point streak. Forsberg recorded his ninth career hat trick Thursday in topping the 30-goal mark for a fourth time.

"When (Forsberg) gets going like that ... he puts the power forward and skill comes behind it, and that's a deadly combination," Brunette added.

Forsberg, however, has just five points in 12 career games at Columbus.

As these teams enter their first season meeting, Nashville tries for its first six-game road winning streak since 2018-19 but is 0-2-1 in the last three trips to Columbus.

The Blue Jackets' 54 points are tied for last in the East, but they've totaled 18 goals during their current 3-1-0 stretch, which includes victories over playoff contenders Vegas and