The Columbus Blue Jackets are just outside looking in at the NHL Eastern Conference’s two wild card spots. Their 10 remaining games will be played as though they are playoff tilts and that included the contest Tuesday against the Nashville Predators at Nationwide Arena. When the ice sprays cleared, the Jackets won 8-4.

Columbus got started early against the Preds with Kirill Marchenko scoring just 1:50 into the game. Columbus added two more goals in the first period with Adam Fantilli and Sean Monahan getting on the board. There would be more from all three scorers later in the game. Nashville scored late in the period to make it 3-1.

Marchenko once again led a period off with a goal. It was his 30th of the season, the first time in his three-year career that he had reached that tier. The Predators quickly scored two goals and the score was 4-3. Columbus stretched the lead to 6-3 when Fantilli and Monahan mirrored the first period scoring sequence.

Dante Fabbro made it 7-3 with less than a minute remaining in the second. It was significant for Fabbro who had played seven years for the Predators before the Blue Jackets claimed him on waivers this past November. Fabbro has been a solid performer for Columbus, playing on the top D-line with Zach Werenski.

In the third period, Marchenko added his third goal of the game. It was the third hat trick of his young career. Nashville scored once more and the Blue Jackets came away with the 8-4 win.

On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens beat Florida in overtime to stay in the second wild card position, two points ahead of the Jackets. Columbus has played one fewer game than the Habs.

The Blue Jackets are back in action Thursday with a home game against the Colorado Avalanche. The puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.