Against the Hurricanes, it came down to a pair of second-period goals created by the third line and some key saves by goalie Matiss Kivlenieks in the third period - including an impressive glove save on a breakaway by Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft.
Nikita Korostelev, Kevin Stenlund, Kole Sherwood and Eric Robinson scored the goals for the Jackets, who entered the game against Carolina needing either a win or a point beyond regulation to clinch a spot in the championship.
"This was tough, because I didn't know a lot of the guys we brought in," said Chris Clark, one of the Blue Jackets' three development coaches. "The scouts of them, and that's where we got the recommendations, but you never know. Sometimes that works out to our advantage, because more than half this team is looking for an opportunity. They're not drafted, they're not part of our system, so that's extra motivation for a lot of the guys."
Those invited players have filled their roles nicely, with players in the Jackets' system also pushing hard, and the combination has been tough to stop.
Take, for instance, how the scoring unfolded for Columbus on Monday.
Korostelev, a late addition to the roster as a free-agent invite, scored the first goal off a face-off win by Sam Vigneault - who signed with the Blue Jackets in 2017 out of Clarkson University. After the Hurricanes tied it with a goal that initially called off, Columbus scored the next two goals in the second period courtesy of the third line.
Sherwood's strong rush up the left wing created the scoring chance that led to Stenlund's goal at 8:27 of the second, making it 2-1, and then he buried a rebound off a shot by Stenlund at 12:09 for a 3-1 lead.
"Coach said before the shift, 'Take it wide, use your speed," said Sherwood, who grew up in New Albany and now lives in Columbus. "I didn't think I had too much speed there, but I still ran the guy and took it to the net. It went behind and I saw Stenlund out front, so I just gave it to him."
The third member of that line, Trey Fix-Wolansky, assisted on each goal and now has three points in the tournament, all on assists.
"Coming from junior [hockey], it's a little different pace," said Fix-Wolansky, an undersized, forward selected in the seventh round of the draft this summer out of the Western Hockey League (Edmonton Oil Kings). "Also, nerves. I was pretty nervous going into the first game, but I got my first couple shifts under my belt and I've felt really good after that. I've just kept trying to build off that - and it's been going really well so far."
Stenlund now has four points (three goals, one assist) in the first three games, Sherwood has a goal and two assists (three points) and Sam Vigneault - who centers the second line - has three goals, one assist and four points.
The Jackets are getting contributions from players up and down the lineup, regardless of contract status, and they have one more game left to win the Matthew Wuest Memorial Trophy, which is awarded - albeit briefly - to the winner of this eight-team tournament.
"I think everyone in the room knows that winning is important," Fix-Wolansky said. "That's what we want to do, is go out and win, so everyone's been battling hard and it's been a really good tournament so far. Hopefully we can close it out with another win."
