The Columbus Blue Jackets wrapped up their six-game home stand tonight with a strong effort, resulting in a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Columbus got off to a fast start, with Nick Foligno tapping home the puck for an easy goal (thanks to a nifty pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois) to make it 1-0 just four minutes into the game.
Anthony Duclair isn't going to get a point here but it all started with his hard work.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2018
Jones to Dubois to Foligno. Boom.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/ynWdpoqKz3
The Blue Jackets had a similarly quick start to the game's second period, with Cam Atkinson scoring on a penalty shot to extend the lead to 2-0 just under a minute into the frame. Still, Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stood tall for much of the game – his first career start, no less – holding the Blue Jackets to just those two goals on 38 shots as a team.
As good as Blackwood was, though, Sergei Bobrovsky was even better in net for the Blue Jackets, with 30 saves on 31 shots to get the win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| DEVILS | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
New Jersey may be near the bottom of the league standings (and last in the Metropolitan Division), but they put up enough of a fight to at least make this one interesting. Blackwood turned in a stellar performance, Taylor Hall had a breakaway goal and there were a few chippy moments between the two teams.
In the end, though, Columbus will walk away with two more points, and end their homestand on a high note. Speaking of high notes, let's take a look at the stickhandling clinic Cam Atkinson put on to score his 20th goal of the season.
Atkinson dingles and dangles subsequently mangling MacKenzie Blackwood on his way to a goal.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/glsmiS0hE0
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 21, 2018
Oh yeah, that's the stuff.
Injury Update
No injuries for the Blue Jackets.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets have a road back-to-back starting on Saturday in Philadelphia, with the second leg coming against these same New Jersey Devils.
