Blue Jackets defeat Red Wings after Tortorella gets support from GM

COLUMBUS-- The Columbus Blue Jackets scored three goals in the second period of a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, their first in six games.

"We talked about it actually, between the second and third," Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson said. "We said that was our best second period of the season so far. For whatever reason, we just stayed on top of our game, stayed on our toes and tried to go get the next goal. I think it showed."
Prior to the game, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella was given a vote of confidence from general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
"Guys just came to the rink feeling good today, guys were making plays and it was a lot of fun, so a step in the right direction," Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski said.
Atkinson had a goal and an assist, Werenski had two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 19 saves for Columbus (9-10-5), which last won Feb. 18.
Anthony Mantha scored in the first period for Detroit (7-15-3), which has lost 13 of its past 15 games against Columbus.
Riley Nash, Jack Roslovic and Boone Jenner scored for the Blue Jackets in a 10:11 span of the second period.
"We just lost too many battles, too many individual battles," Red Wings center Luke Glendening said. "We have to be better as individuals and be better as a team."
The maximum 1,953 fans, representing 10 percent of capacity, was the first time spectators were allowed at Nationwide Arena since March 1, 2020 against the Vancouver Canucks.
"It was huge. It gave us so much momentum and energy," Atkinson said. "You know, I wasn't sure at first in warmups, just because you don't know how many people 2,000 is. When we came out for the start of the game I was pleasantly shocked. That was a huge boost for us. I think we showed it. It was great to have our fans back in the building."
Atkinson scored his NHL-best fourth shorthanded goal at 7:44 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. He has 10 goals this season.
Mantha tied it 1-1 at 15:46 with a power-play goal. It was his first point in nine games, since a goal against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 13.

Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones had a go-ahead goal at 7:07 of the second period overturned on a successful coach's challenge for offside after he was unable to keep the puck in the zone 13 seconds earlier.
The Blue Jackets then took a 3-1 lead on goals 1:50 apart by Nash and on a power-play by Roslovic.
"Usually when a goal gets overturned that's some momentum for your team, and unfortunately it didn't work like that for us tonight," Glendening said.
Nash scored his first goal in 11 games with a shot over the glove of Jonathan Bernier from the right circle at 7:26 to make it 2-1. Roslovic tipped a Werenski shot at 9:16 for a 3-1 edge.

"When the momentum shifted away from us, we allowed it to shift away from us," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "We didn't have any push-back shifts at all.
"That happens when you turn pucks over too, because then you just keep defending. At the end of the day, in the second period, we were defending the whole time."
Jenner made it 4-1 at 17:37 with a stick-side shot from low in the left circle.
"We had a number of guys move the puck pretty well," Tortorella said. "I think that's the most important thing, is just to get the puck moving better."
Bernier made 23 saves in two periods before being relieved by Thomas Greiss (nine saves).
NOTES: Red Wings defenseman Patrik Nemeth played 19:05 after coming off COVID-19 protocol before the game. Nemeth did not play Sunday in a 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. ... Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom had an assist on Nash's goal for his first point in nine games this season. ... The Red Wings scored a power-play goal for a third straight game after not scoring one in the previous 14. ... Columbus is 22-4-2 against Detroit since Feb. 2, 2013.