This was certainly a defensive-minded, close-to-the-vest game reminiscent of those played by the Devils of years past.
The Blue Jackets started sluggishly out of the gate, turned pucks over and did not make it easy on themselves by any stretch – and it fed right into New Jersey’s counterpunching, attacking style.
They were certainly not sharp, but what coach John Tortorella told his team between periods is that they needed to find a way, dig deep and grind out two points Tuesday night at Prudential Center, and do so against a team full of confidence on a four-game winning streak.
And in the third period, the dam broke in a matter of 35 seconds.
First it was Boone Jenner going hard to the net, awaiting a rebound and beating Cory Schneider 9:03 into the final frame. David Clarkson was around the net, Gregory Campbell got it there, and Jenner was fresh off the bench to give Columbus the lead.
On the next shift, Scott Hartnell – who played a terrific game for the Blue Jackets – won a battle in the offensive zone, slipped the puck to Dubinsky and then it was on to Cam Atkinson for a tap-in goal at 9:38.
Hartnell added a goal on a wicked shot of his own, carrying the puck into the slot from the corner, turning and ripping a slapper high-glove on Schneider with 5:13 remaining in regulation.
Without much going their way early in the game (and a lot of it self-inflicted), the Blue Jackets had something to build on and it came on in a hurry.
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