Columbus Blue Jackets host Nashville Predators next after overtime win, as teams chase playoff positioning

Columbus returns home to face Nashville at Nationwide Arena

The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to host the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with a 7 p.m. local start. The game comes immediately after Columbus secured an overtime victory in its previous outing, a result that continued a strong stretch of form heading into the matchup with Nashville.

Where both teams stand entering the matchup

Entering the game window, Columbus has been positioned in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, while Nashville has remained in the Central Division’s mid-tier, with both clubs still needing points to strengthen their playoff paths. Recent team snapshots show Columbus carrying momentum, including a winning streak that has kept it within the conference mix, while Nashville has been looking to stabilize results over its most recent set of games.

• Game: Predators at Blue Jackets
• Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
• Venue: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

What the numbers suggest about styles of play

Recent season-level comparisons indicate Columbus has generated offense at a slightly higher rate than Nashville and has been among the league’s better teams in shot volume. Nashville’s scoring rate has trended lower, placing added importance on special teams and game management, particularly on the road.

One storyline to watch is discipline and special-teams opportunity. Columbus has voiced frustration recently about a limited number of power plays across multiple games, a factor that can influence both scoring and late-game tactics. Nashville, meanwhile, has leaned on its power play as a meaningful portion of its total scoring and will likely aim to create situations that draw penalties and slow the pace.

Context from the recent series history

These teams have already seen each other earlier in the season, including a Nashville overtime win in October 2024 at Bridgestone Arena in which the Predators erased deficits and finished the game in extra time. That matchup underscored a theme that often emerges when the clubs meet: tight margins, swings in momentum, and outcomes decided late.

What’s at stake Tuesday night

For Columbus, the matchup represents an opportunity to convert an overtime win into a multi-game points run and to defend home ice against a Western Conference opponent. For Nashville, it is a chance to disrupt a hot stretch by the Blue Jackets while collecting valuable road points during a demanding portion of the calendar.

With both teams hovering around the playoff cutlines in their respective conference and division races, Tuesday’s meeting projects as a high-leverage game where one bounce—or one overtime sequence—could determine the result.