Quote of the Game
Head coach John Tortorella: "Our goalie obviously was the main reason (we won). I think we played a really good first period, and then I don't know what happens, but I thought we deserved a result in the Islanders game (Monday), we didn't get it. Sometimes the just come out in the wash. We just get ready for our next game."
CBJ Notables
Quick Recap
Columbus didn't waste much time building a quick 2-0 lead in front of a Nationwide Arena crowd yawning for it.
The opening goal came just 3:08 in off the stick of McQuaid. A strong shift by the CBJ top line was highlighted by Pierre-Luc Dubois, who won a pair of wall battles for pucks then provided a screen in front as McQuaid's long wrister from the right point went into the top far corner behind Petr Mrazek.
Another defenseman scored at 5:54 as the Jackets made it 2-0 before the first media timeout. This time, Boone Jenner won a faceoff back to Savard, who found some room and stepped into a wrist shot that beat Mrazek clean over the glove.
Carolina had its chances in the first thanks to Blue Jackets' turnovers, but Bobrovsky was sharp in making stops against Michael Ferland and Sebastian Aho. Meanwhile, Columbus almost made it 3-0 with five minutes left in the period, but Mrazek stopped Josh Anderson on a breakaway, and with the goalie down and out, Ryan Dzingel drilled a clearing attempt but it bounced off of both Canes defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Matt Duchene before bounding away from the goal.
Bobrovsky was the star of the second period, making 22 saves on 22 shots. He made a number of fantastic saves, including denying Jaccob Slavin in front on a rebound, and also got a bit lucky when a puck deflected right to Brock McGinn in the slot but his shot hit the post before Warren Foegele deposited the rebound into the goalie's paraphernalia. Ferland also got in behind the defense but Bobrovsky made a pad stop.
The Blue Jackets were able to settle things down some to start the third, but a nervy moment came with less than four minutes left when Canes defenseman Brett Pesce hit the post, but even that went Bobrovsky's way on the night.
Carolina pulled Mrazek to try to score on a late power play, but Anderson scored with 2:39 into the open net to set the final score.
By the Numbers
Anderson scored for the second game in a row and has a 2-3-5 line in that span. He also has 9-10-19 in his last 23 games. ... Carolina's 22 shots on goal in the second period ties for the second most given up in a period this season by the Blue Jackets (San Jose had 25 in the third period of a 4-1 loss Nov. 1). ... Bobrovsky made 44 saves in that win vs. the Sharks, his most this season before tonight. ... Brandon Dubinsky won 16 of 23 faceoffs. … Jenner now has a three-game point streak (4-1-5). … After 14 shots on goal in the first period, Columbus had just six the rest of the way. … Columbus stopped two power plays and is now 74 of 80 on the kill in the last 33 games with four shorthanded goals in that span.
Roster Report
Columbus used the same lineup as Tuesday night, scratching forwards Markus Hannikainen, Lukas Sedlak and Eric Robinson along with defenseman Dean Kukan and goaltender Keith Kinkaid.
Up Next
The Blue Jackets return to the ice Saturday night for the second half of the back-to-back with a 7 p.m. game at Boston.
