In a thrilling matchup, Kirill Marchenko's hat trick propelled the Columbus Blue Jackets to an impressive 8-4 victory against the Nashville Predators. This win not only showcased Marchenko's scoring prowess, bringing his season total to 31 goals, but also marked the Blue Jackets' resurgence in the playoff race, bolstering their chances of securing a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets scored first, breaking a nine-game streak of conceding the opening goal, and demonstrated their offensive depth, with contributions from Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli, both of whom notched two goals apiece. The team is now looking to reclaim playoff positioning, currently sitting just outside the wild-card spots, aided by a recent uptick in their performance against weaker opponents.