Santorelli, Legwand score in SO; Predators hold off Umberger and Blue Jackets in 4-3 win

Santorelli and Legwand lift Preds to SO win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mike Santorelli and David Legwand scored shootout goals to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Pekka Rinne denied two of Columbus’ three shooters in the tiebreaker to earn his fifth consecutive victory.

Jason Arnott, Legwand and Martin Erat had goals for Nashville in regulation.

R.J. Umberger scored at 4:55 of the opening period to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. Umberger added a second goal, and Anton Stralman also scored for the Blue Jackets.

On Umberger’s first goal, Derick Brassard’s pass from the right boards ski-ramped into the air off Erat’s stick. Standing in the low slot, Umberger took a baseball swing at the puck and knocked it past Rinne on the glove side.

The goal was initially waved off by referee Tom Kowal, but a prolonged video replay overturned that call. It was determined that Umberger didn’t make contact with the puck when it was above the height of the crossbar.

The Predators drew even at 12:12 of the first on a power-play goal by Arnott. Columbus regained the lead 15 seconds later when Umberger scored again.

From below the goal line to the left of the Nashville net, Umberger banked in the puck off Rinne’s left skate.

Nashville tied it 2-2 at 1:29 of the second period on a short-handed goal by Legwand.

Erat forced a turnover by Blue Jackets defenseman Jakub Voracek inside the Columbus blue line. Erat found Legwand in front of Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason, and Legwand lifted a backhander high to Mason’s stick side.

Erat gave Nashville its first lead 2 minutes later with a power-play goal when he redirected Shea Weber’s slap shot from the left point.

Stralman’s power-play goal at 19:02 of the second period made it 3-3.

Mason stopped 45 shots in regulation and overtime. Rinne turned aside 26 Columbus attempts.

NOTES: Columbus C Samuel Pahlsson returned after missing three games with an elbow infection and back spasms. Blue Jackets D Fedor Tyutin has six assists in his last three games. … Nashville has scored at least one power-play goal in four consecutive games. It’s the first time the Predators have done that this season.