When the Blue Jackets gave up a late tying goal on a messy shorthanded sequence, they didn’t get down or hang their heads — they got angry.
Those were the words of defenseman Jack Johnson, who scored the game-winning goal only 56 seconds into overtime, sending the Blue Jackets to their seventh straight win and 10th in the past 11 games, a 3-2 final over the New Jersey Devils at Nationwide Arena.
“We wanted to finish the game off,” Johnson said.
That was after Mike Cammalleri tied the game with 2:29 to go, only seconds after Dainius Zubrus had a shorthanded breakaway following a Jackets turnover high in the offensive zone, leading to a stretch pass with Zubrus waiting up ice. Zubrus, denied twice by Sergei Bobrovsky, stayed with the play and eventually, Cammalleri squeaked it over the line to tie it up late in regulation.
In overtime, it was an exhibition of precision and execution by the Blue Jackets, who scored the game-winner on an artful collaboration between Johnson, David Savard and Ryan Johansen. Johansen got it started on the zone entry, curling behind the Devils’ net before finding Savard at the center point.
Savard slapped a hard pass down low on the left wing to Johnson, who cut to the high slot and ripped a backhander past the glove of Cory Schneider, sending the Jackets off with the extra point.
And further, tonight’s victory was the Jackets’ 11th in the month of March, establishing a new franchise record.
“We realize the reality of situation right now, but we never strap our gear on to lose,” Johnson said. “We’ve been winning and we’re going to try and keep winning. We’ve got six games and we want to go 6-0.
“We owe our fans some home wins. We want to finish those games off on a strong note.”
So, how did it all unfold?
It began with a methodical first period on both sides, and the first goal went to New Jersey on a power play strike by Mike Cammalleri. Devils defenseman Eric Gelinas made a perfect one-time pass to Cammalleri at the back post, and he fired the one-timer home with one knee down to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the first period.
The Blue Jackets took over in the second period, and held a 33-20 edge in shot attempts at even strength (62 precent) after 40 minutes. They got second period goals from Nick Foligno (his team-leading 27th, on the power play) and a penalty shot goal from Brandon Dubinsky, who was hacked on a breakaway by Devils forward Stefan Matteau.
Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards liked his team’s response late in the third period after giving up the shorthanded goal, and also liked their resolve throughout the game against a team that can wear opponents down with a frustrating style.
“You shouldn’t be giving up that opportunity,” Richards said of the late goal. “I don’t think the frustration got to us. Our guys did a good job defending.”
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