Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Vernon Fiddler and Scott Nichol scored second-period goals to keep Nashville in control and Chris Mason stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period, as the Predators defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2, in a Central Division battle at Sommet Center.

Alexander Radulov and Jason Arnott also scored for the Predators, who earned at least a point for the fifth time in their last six games (4-1-1), and moved one point ahead of the Blue Jackets in the division standings (57 points). Mason finished with 31 saves.

"Everyone played really well tonight -- we had a good effort from everyone," said Predators forward J.P. Dumont, who had two assists. "We played some good hockey before the (All-Star) break and we've got to have the mentality that we are going to win every night."

Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche scored for Columbus, which has dropped two straight and closed the month of January with a 7-7 mark. Pascal Leclaire started for the Blue Jackets, but was pulled after 40 minutes of action in which he allowed four goals on 23 shots. Fredrik Norrena stopped all eight shots he faced in relief.

Zherdev cut the Jackets' deficit in half with a power-play goal 34 seconds into the second period. He gained control along the right rear boards, skated to the opposite side and, from along the goal line to the left of the net, beat Mason with a sharp-angle shot for his 21st goal of the season.

But Fiddler put the Preds back on top by two when his seventh goal made it 3-1 nearly nine minutes into the middle session.

Darcy Hordichuk released a blind backhand pass from along the left boards in the neutral zone that perfectly found the stick of Fiddler, who beat Leclaire with a blazing wrist shot from the circle.

Soon after, at the 11:09 mark, Fritsche lit the lamp and brought the Blue Jackets within 3-2. Manny Malhotra maneuvered between two defenders inside the right circle and slid a pass over to Fritsche along the near half-wall. Fritsche then fired a wrister that somehow found its way between Mason and the near post.

However, Nichol answered less than three minutes later and once again restored Nashville's two-goal edge. Jerred Smithson's strong forechecking along the rear boards allowed him to remain in control of the puck in the offensive zone, and he fed a pass into the goal mouth for Nichol.

Nichol's initial whack was saved by Leclaire, but the rebound kicked loose and Nichol buried it through traffic in the crease, giving the Preds a 4-2 lead with 6:02 left in the second period.

Mason was very solid in the final stanza and the Preds held on for the win.

After Radulov opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the game, the Preds grabbed a two-goal lead at the 11:48 mark of the first period via Arnott's power-play tally.

"I thought we came out strong and it was a great way to start the game with our first goal in the first 26 seconds," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. "It helped give our team momentum. I thought we came out and carried the first period which was a real key for us tonight."