COLUMBUS, Ohio — Joonas Korpisalo had 29 saves, three Columbus players recorded a goal and an assist and the Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Top-liners Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson carried the offensive load, and Boone Jenner also scored as Columbus won its fourth straight. The Blue Jackets have won six of their last eight games and 11 of the last 14 while sparring with Washington and Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division.
Korpisalo has started three of the last four games ahead of star Sergei Bobrovsky and won each time. The 24-year-old Finn could soon find himself the team’s No.1 goalie as Bobrovsky has refused to sign a contract extension with Columbus and may be traded before the deadline next month.
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Joonas Korpisalo makes a save (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Blake Coleman scored and Keith Kinkaid had 30 saves for the Devils, who saw a two-game winning streak end as they struggle to stay out of the Metro basement.
Atkinson tipped in a pass from Dubois 45 seconds in for his team-leading 27th goal to give Columbus the early lead. Less than two minutes later, Josh Anderson, off a faceoff from the right circle, fed Jenner, who beat Kinkaid from the slot.
Late in the first, David Savard grabbed a face off and slid a beautiful pass from the left corner to the doorstep, setting up Panarin for an easy tip-in and a 3-0 Columbus lead.
Early in the second, Dubois snapped in a shot from the left circle for the Blue Jackets’ fourth power-play goal in four games.
Coleman redirected a shot by Mirco Mueller late in the second period to make it 4-1.
NOTES: Columbus coach John Tortorella coached his 285th game with the team, passing Ken Hitchcock for the franchise record. He is the franchise’s leader in wins (156-102-26). … New Jersey F Miles Wood was out with an undisclosed injury suffered in the game Monday night. … Panarin, Dubois and Atkinson all have four-game point streaks. … Coleman has five goals and two assists in the last five games.
UP NEXT:
New Jersey: At New York Islanders on Thursday.
Columbus: Hosts Montreal on Friday.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
___
Follow Mitch Stacy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mitchstacy
Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press