NHL: Columbus 4, Nashville 0

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Rick Nash scored twice during a four-goal, third-period Columbus onslaught Tuesday and the Blue Jackets blanked Nashville 4-0.

Nash broke a scoreless tie with a goal 1:11 into the final frame, and after tallies by Matt Calvert and Antoine Vermette, added another with 59 seconds left for the Blue Jackets.

Steve Mason stopped all 20 shots he saw, notching his third shutout for the year as Columbus improved to 6-1-2 in its last nine home contests against the Predators.

Pekka Rinne stopped 26-of-30 shots for Nashville, which came into the game holding the fifth spot in the tightly packed Western Conference playoff picture.