On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-8) will host the Nashville Predators (27-24-8) at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, aiming to secure an important victory in their NHL campaign. The game will be broadcasted on Fanduel Sports Network, presenting a critical opportunity for both teams to improve their standings this season.
Recent Performance and Team Stats: Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators recently fell 3-2 to the Dallas Stars, a game in which they were penalized for 11 penalty minutes. Despite earning three power play chances, Nashville managed to score only once in that area and landed just two goals from 27 shots overall. Throughout the season, the Predators have scored 172 goals, ranking 22nd in the NHL, while conceding 203 goals to opponents.
Accumulating 62 points with a .525 points percentage, Nashville has relied on a 22.41% power play success rate, scoring 39 goals out of 174 power plays. However, their defense has allowed 167 goals while playing at even strength, while their offense has produced 133 under the same conditions. The Predators have attempted 1,682 shots with a 10.2% shooting percentage, facing 1,726 shots against and maintaining a save percentage of .882. Opposing teams have earned 178 power play chances against Nashville, converting 36 goals in those opportunities, which ranks 13th in the league.
Justus Annunen to Guard the Nashville Net
In goal for Nashville will be Justus Annunen, whose professional career includes allowing 190 goals with a 3.28 goals-against average over 71 games. Annunen has a career save percentage of .893 spanning 2,796 minutes on ice. His record stands at 31 wins, 27 losses, and 5 overtime losses over 58 starts. Additionally, Annunen has registered 29 quality starts, reflecting a quality start rate of .500, having faced 1,772 shots and making 1,582 saves so far in his NHL career.
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Recent Results and Season Overview
The Blue Jackets come into this game after a narrow 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders, during which they converted 3 goals from 30 shots but failed to score on their sole power play attempt. Accumulating 66 points with a .569 points percentage this season, Columbus has scored 179 total goals while conceding 184. Their defensive breakdown includes 147 goals allowed at even strength and 37 goals against while shorthanded.
Offensively, Columbus has put up 152 even-strength goals and 27 power play goals, ranking 29th in the NHL for power play scoring efficiency. With 138 power play chances, their success rate currently stands at 19.57%. The Blue Jackets have fired 1,737 shots, ranking ninth in the league, with a shooting percentage of 10.31%. Defensively, they have faced 1,741 shots and maintained a penalty kill rate of 77.44% compared to 164 power play units from opponents. Their overall save percentage is 89.4% this year.
Elvis Merzlikins Expected to Start for Columbus
Goalie Elvis Merzlikins is projected to start for Columbus. He holds a career record of 105-109-36 across 266 games and maintains a quality start percentage of 47.8%, having made 120 quality starts. Merzlikins has recorded 7,216 saves out of 8,014 shots faced, resulting in a .900 save percentage. He has allowed 798 goals, with opponents averaging 3.18 goals per game against him. However, he has been a consistent starter with 251 starts and has accumulated 12,984 minutes on ice throughout his NHL career.
Game Outlook and Expert Opinion
With both teams closely matched and fighting for pivotal points, the game promises to be a tense and competitive contest. The Nashville Predators seek to rebound from their recent loss, while the Blue Jackets aim to capitalize on home-ice advantage to bolster their standings. The outcome will have implications for playoff positioning as the season progresses.
“Take Nashville” ?Guy, Expert Picker
The expert pick provided indicates a leaning towards the Predators to edge this matchup, highlighting the competitive nature of the game and the uncertainties involved. Fans and analysts will be watching closely for how the two goaltenders, Justus Annunen and Elvis Merzlikins, perform under pressure in this key NHL encounter.
