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Predators 4, Blue Jackets 1: Happy Fans, Rotten Teeth

By Dirk Hoag
Getty Images

The Nashville Predators did their part for the local dentist industry by winning both GooGoo Clusters and Frosties for the fans in attendance at Bridgestone Arena tonight, as they trounced the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Mike Fisher led the way with two goals, while Martin Erat & Ryan Suter added two assists, and Pekka Rinne made 25 saves to push his record to 27-11-4.

Video highlights and post-game reaction from today's win after the jump:

Cue the video:

Courtesy of 102.5 The Game, we have a couple audio segments for you:

Predators Blue Jackets radio highlights 2012-01-23 (mp3)

Peter Horachek on 1025 The Game 2012-01-23 (mp3)

Post-game audio is available from Barry Trotz, Matt Halischuk, Mike Fisher, and Pekka Rinne (click each name for the mp3).

Your random observations:

  • That was a nice, opportunistic pokecheck by Erat to set up the Fisher goal to get things started, Marty is on a roll these days. Jacob Underwood from 104.5 The Zone points out that Erat now has 65 points in his last 72 games.
  • Rick Nash's goal in the 2nd reminded me of Marian Hossa's two scores for Chicago on Saturday - when a big bull like that gets rolling, it's dang near impossible to stop.
  • Man, I wish I could have been in the arena tonight for GooGoo Mania, which broke out thanks to Mike Fisher's 2nd goal. Our long Nashville nightmare is over...
  • That 3rd goal for the Preds, by Halischuk, came off a nice bit of forechecking by him and Craig Smith. It was their hard work that caused a puck thrown carelessly up the boards, which Ryan Ellis was able to keep in and send towards the front of the net.
  • It's too bad the Predators are done with Columbus for the season. Not just due to the 5-0-1 record Nashville racked up against the BJ's this season, but Derek Dorsett deserves a thorough beatdown for the slew foot he gave Ryan Ellis late in the 3rd period. It was a bush-league move that's about as cheap as it gets in the NHL.
  • At least the Preds made Dorsett pay to a minor extent by scoring on the resulting power play. I loved the way Suter just laid a wrist shot in there in perfect position for Hornqvist to tip it home.
  • All in all, this was a fine effort in what could very easily have been a let-down game. Now it's off to Chicago to see if the Predators can head into the All-Star break ahead of the Blackhawks in the Central Division...

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