NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The return of Tomas Vokoun did much more for the Nashville Predators than Rick Nash's did for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vokoun made 23 saves and got plenty of support from his offense and the Predators posted a 7-3 victory over the Blue Jackets.

An All-Star in 2003, Vokoun had missed the previous three games with a strained knee. Nashville went 1-2 in that stretch, allowing 14 goals with Chris Mason, Pekka Rinne and Brian Finley in net.

Vokoun showed some signs of rust early, allowing a goal midway through the opening period to Nash, who had missed all but three games this season due to ankle and knee injuries.

Nash, who claimed a share of the Maurice Richard Trophy with 41 goals in 2003-04, took a pass from David Vyborny and backhanded the puck over Vokoun for a power-play goal - his first of the season - and a 1-0 lead 12:34 into the game.

Vokoun was solid thereafter, allowing just Jan Hrdina's tally six minutes into the middle session before Vyborny scored on a penalty shot late in the third.

While Vokoun was thwarting the Blue Jackets, the Predators were having their way with Columbus goaltender Marc Denis.

Jordin Tootoo scored 43 seconds ino the second period to tie it, 1-1, and Kris Beech tallied 27 seconds after Hrdina to forge a 2-2 tie. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky then blasted a slap shot from the right point past Denis with 10:27 remaining before assisting on Steve Sullivan's power-play tally four minutes later.

Yanic Perreault, Jerred Smithson and Darcy Hordichuk also tallied for Nashville, which has won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

Denis allowed six goals on 25 shots before Pascal Leclaire took over at the start of the third period.