The Blue Jackets completed a four-game home stand with a 2-1 win in overtime in front of 14,224 in Nationwide Arena.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JETS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
IN A PARAGRAPH
Columbus didn't answer the bell to begin, giving up a goal to Brandon Tanev just 4:52 into the game as part of a slow start. A penalty-filled contest ensued, with the Blue Jackets unable to solve former Columbus netminder Steve Mason until Cam Atkinson's tally with 9:37 to play. In overtime, Josh Anderson notched his third goal of the season to give the Jackets the win.
NOTABLES
- Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 30 shots, giving him 63 saves in 65 games over his past two starts.
- Atkinson notched his fourth goal of the season, had three shots on goal and added a pair of hits.
- Zach Werenski played 25:20 on the blue line, posting five shots on goal.
STAT ATTACK
Columbus' penalty kill stayed at 100 percent (16-for-16) in home games. ... Mason entered with a goals-against average of 5.96 on the year in three starts. The longest he had gone in a game without allowing a goal was 20:36. ... Mason has made five starts in Nationwide Arena as a Blue Jackets opponent and has lost all five in overtime or a shootout despite allowing just eight goals in regulation in those starts. ... Five former Michigan Wolverines played in the game. In addition to the Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski and Jack Johnon, Winnipeg dressed left wing Kyle Connor, center Andrew Copp and defenseman Jacob Trouba.
WHAT HAPPENED
Winnipeg controlled the first few shifts and earned a deserved goal 4:52 into the game. A turnover on an outlet pass by Johnson ended up on the stick of Brandon Tanev, and his shot snuck through Bobrovsky and sat in the crease, much like the Matt Calvert goal into the same net Wednesday night. And playing the role of Calvert for the Jets was Tanev, who crashed the crease and slammed the puck home before a Jacket could arrive on scene.
Things could have been worse for Columbus in the period as the Jackets had to kill three minor penalties in the frame, but the penalty kill stood tall.
And the Jackets slowly turned around momentum, turning what had been an 11-3 shot differential into a 12-10 deficit by the end of the frame.
But any momentum gained going into the break was dulled by another penalty shortly after the second period started by Brandon Dubinsky, and Bobrovsky was deputized midway through the period when he made a casual 2-on-1 glove save on Mark Scheifele.
The Blue Jackets finally got a pair of consecutive power plays shortly thereafter, with the best chance coming when Artemi Panarin pinged the crossbar, but the first-year Jacket remained without a power-play goal on the season.
It stayed 1-0 in favor of Winnipeg until the third period passed its midway point. Just when it looked like it wouldn't be the Blue Jackets' night, a loose puck bounded into the slot and Atkinson backhanded the bouncing biscuit past Mason's blocker side and into the net to tie the score with 9:37 left.
With no more goals in regulation, overtime was int he offing, and the Jets could have won it 2:02 in when Blake Wheeler was left alone in front of the net, but Bobrovsky made a sprawling stop while falling onto his stomach.
Finally, the Jackets got the winner with 2:22 to play to cap a frenetic shift. Mason lost his stick midway through and never could get set, and finally Anderson fired through a screen for the winner from between the circles.
INJURY REPORT
None.
NEXT UP
The Blue Jackets hit the road tomorrow night for the second of a back-to-back, facing St. Louis at 8 p.m.
