NHL Issues Scoring Change After Predators-Blue Jackets Game

Oesterle’s goal at 9:02 of the third period stood as Nashville’s fourth of the night and capped a difficult defensive showing for the visitors.

Following the scoring adjustment, Cole Smith has eight assists on the season, while McCarron sits at nine in 67 games played. 

Columbus controlled the game with a four-point night from Kirill Marchenko, who recorded his third career NHL hat trick and added an assist.

Sean Monahan also had two goals and two assists, while Adam Fantilli scored twice and collected an assist for the Blue Jackets.

“It’s a 60-minute game. Tonight, we were ready to go off the hop and got some early ones,” Monahan said. “You’ve got to be at your best.”

The Predators, meanwhile, surrendered seven goals in the first two periods. Head coach Andrew Brunette pointed to poor game management and costly mistakes.

“We just self-inflicted a little bit,” Brunette said. “Game management, shift management got us in trouble on three goals.”

With the win, Columbus kept pace in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Blue Jackets ()34-30-9 and 77 points) sit two points behind the Canadiens (35-30-9, 79) for the final playoff spot with a game in hand.

Nashville, meanwhile, has now lost four straight games and 9 of its last 11, sitting third-to-last in the Western Conference with a 27-40-8 record.