COLUMBUS — Elvis Merzlikins made 32 saves in his first start since coming off injured reserve, Cam Atkinson scored his team-leading seventh goal and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Thursday night.

Merzlikins, who hadn’t started since Jan. 31 because of an upper-body injury, picked up his first shutout of the season and the sixth of his career.

Merzlikins allowed two goals on nine shots on Monday night in relief of Joonas Korpisalo. But he was solid the whole way against Nashville, particularly in the the third period when Columbus was outshot 13-4 amid a Nashville offensive push.