COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 27 (UPI) -- Jack Johnson's third-period goal helped boost Columbus over Nashville 3-1 Saturday, but the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs when Minnesota won its game.
Brandon Dubinsky added a goal and an assist while Cam Atkinson chipped in with an empty-netter and an assist, as the Blue Jackets erased a 1-0 deficit with three tallies in the final frame.
Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 19 shots for the Blue Jackets, who staged an impressive push in the second half of the lockout-shortened season to end with a 24-17-7 mark.
They needed to record a victory and also have Minnesota lose to Colorado Saturday to claim the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, but the Wild bested the Avalanche 3-1 in Denver.
Shea Weber scored and Chris Mason made 44 saves for the Predators, who missed the post-season with a 16-23-9 record.