NASHVILLE, April 4 (UPI) -- Marian Gaborik, playing his first game for Columbus, broke a tie with a third-period goal Thursday and the Blue Jackets went on to defeat Nashville 3-1.
Gaborik was obtained in a deal with the New York Rangers prior to Wednesday's trade deadline and he quickly paid dividends by scoring 4:16 into the third period.
Columbus won its third in a row, jumped past Nashville in the Western Conference standings and moved closer to a playoff position. The Blue Jackets began the evening two points behind eighth-place St. Louis.
After Gaborik's tip-in put the Blue jackets in front, Matt Calvert contributed an insurance goal with 9:10 to play.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 38 saves in the victory. Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots in what was Nashville's fourth loss in five games.
