Blue Jackets 3, Predators 1: Marian Gaborik made an immediate impact with his new team by recording a goal and an assist and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 38 shots as visiting Columbus topped Nashville to earn its third straight win.

Matt Calvert also had a goal and an assist and defenseman James Wisniewski scored on the power play for the Blue Jackets, who trail the St. Louis Blues by one point for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Blue-liner Kevin Klein tallied and Pekka Rinne made 35 saves as the Predators failed to earn a point for the second time in eight games and is two behind St. Louis in the West.

Gaborik, who came over from the New York Rangers in a deadline trade on Wednesday, gave Columbus the lead for good at 4:16 of the third period. Former Rangers teammate Brandon Dubinsky sent a backhand feed across the crease to a streaking Gaborik, who tipped it past Rinne’s left side.

Wisniewski got things started at 8:36 of the second with a one-timer from the slot during a 4-on-3 power play. The Predators knotted the contest less than four minutes later, when Klein stuffed the puck under Bobrovsky during a scrum in front of the crease.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Calvert brought the puck all the way up from deep in his own zone and snapped it from the high slot, deflecting it off Rinne’s blocker and into the net for a 3-1 cushion with 9:10 left. … Nashville C Mike Fisher (hand) returned from a three-game absence and put two shots on goal on 21 shifts. … Gaborik had been held off the scoresheet in each of his last four games with the Rangers and had not recorded a multi-point performance since March 3.