Sam Gagner lifts Blue Jackets to seventh win in row

EDMONTON -- Sam Gagner had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Tuesday.
Cam Atkinson and Matt Calvert scored for the Blue Jackets (18-5-4), who have won seven games in a row. Alexander Wennberg had two assists.
"I thought the team took a little while to get going, but once we started playing, I thought we had a good second half of the game, and [Bobrovsky] played great for us again, and that's a big one for us," said Gagner, who was selected by the Oilers with the sixth pick of the 2007 NHL Draft and had 101 goals and 194 assists in seven seasons with them. "I think we have to find ways to be a little better to start that game, but I think throughout this year we found different ways to win. Tonight, it was our power play and our goaltending, and we took over in the latter half of the game."

WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Oilers highlights
Tyler Pitlick scored for the Oilers (15-12-5), and goaltender Cam Talbot made 28 saves. Edmonton has lost five of its past six games (1-2-3).
"I thought [the momentum change] happened halfway through the second after our power-play opportunities that didn't go in," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "We had some really good looks. The wheel started to turn then. They got a little energy off some of our turnovers, and the game was different from then on."

Pitlick poked a rebound past Bobrovsky at 10:06 of the first period to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead.
The Oilers had a goal waved off because of goaltender interference at 15:53. McLellan challenged the call on the ice, but it was upheld by video review.
Edmonton had 3:49 of a double minor for high sticking against Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson carry over to start the second period but were unable to score.
"I thought we did a really good job in the first two or three minutes of it, then [Bobrovsky] was outstanding," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "We broke a stick, and [Calvert] turned it over and [Bobrovsky] made two or three great saves. From there, even before there, you could see we were finding our legs."
Columbus tied the game 1-1 on the power play at 7:59 of the second period when Wennberg's pass, intended for Atkinson below the left faceoff circle, went in off Gagner's skate at the right hash marks for his 12th goal.
Atkinson gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead on the power play at 7:10 of the third period on a pass from Gagner.
Calvert scored at 8:46 to make it 3-1 following a turnover by Oilers defenseman Matt Benning, whose clearing attempt was intercepted by Josh Anderson inside the Edmonton blue line.
"I thought we had a good first, and then I don't know what happened," Oilers right wing Jordan Eberle said. "We lost some momentum on our power play to start the second, and they kind of just took over. We knew coming in that they are a good team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. When they get going, they are a tough team to stop. We needed to find a way to do that, and we didn't."

Goal of the game

Gagner sent a cross-ice pass to Atkinson for a one-timer past Talbot for the game-winning goal.

Save of the game

Bobrovsky made an outstanding right-pad save on a Pitlick backhand shot off a setup from Connor McDavid at 9:01 of the second period.

Unsung performance of the game

Wennberg used his arm to block a shot from the slot by McDavid at 4:35 of the third period to keep the game tied 1-1.

Highlight of the game

Bobrovsky slid across his crease and stopped a shot from McDavid on a setup from Leon Draisaitl at 3:43 of the second period to help kill off a four-minute penalty.

Video: CBJ@EDM: Bobrovsky handles McDavid's high shot

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They said it

"We had enough time yesterday to rest and get prepared. I thought we could have pushed a little bit longer, but coming from behind on a team like that, a lot of teams in the League haven't been able to do that. And you can put us on the list as well." -- Oilers coach Todd McLellan on fatigue possibly being a factor for his team
"I think the power play is working. We're in right spots. Obviously, you'll take that one when it goes off you and in." -- Blue Jackets forward Sam Gagner on his goal
"I don't think you get any fake records in the NHL. That's a team that's doing it."-- Oilers defenseman Kris Russell on the Blue Jackets' success this season

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Need to know

Gagner has three goals and seven points in eight career games against the Oilers. … Bobrovsky, who leads the NHL in wins, has 17 of the Blue Jackets' 18 victories.

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What's next

Blue Jackets: At the Calgary Flames on Friday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Oilers: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN360, SUN, NHL.TV)