Blue Jackets blank Red Wings 3-0 - Northern Michigan's News Leader

Blue Jackets blank Red Wings 3-0

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By Jared Smith, Sports Director - bio | email

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves in his first career shutout, and Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno took advantage of Detroit giveaways to score goals in leading the suddenly hot Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-0 victory over the Red Wings on Saturday.

Jack Johnson also picked up a power-play goal for the Blue Jackets, who have won four in a row and earned points in their last six.

For a change they didn’t work overtime. They had gone to extra time in their previous five games.

Bobrovsky, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia last summer, picked up his first career shutout in his 99th NHL game and 16th with Columbus. He was at his best in the third period, stopping difficult shots by Niklas Kronwall, Drew Miller and Pavel Datsyuk.

The Blue Jackets improved to 3-0-1 against the Red Wings this season.

Already ahead 1-0, the Blue Jackets took a three-goal lead – with help from the Red Wings in each case – by scoring twice in a span of 83 seconds in the second period.

After Datsyuk was penalized for delay of game, R.J. Umberger dug the puck off the wall to get it to Derick Brassard, who skated to the high slot and left a drop pass for Johnson. The University of Michigan grad’s hard one-timer from the top of the right circle was his third of the year.

Before the crowd of 17,957 – with a liberal sprinkling of Red Wings fans – really settled down, it was 3-0.

In a scene similar to what took place in the first period, Detroit defenseman Kyle Quincey mishandled a puck along the back boards, with a pass glancing off his right skate. Ryan Johansen collected it and whipped a quick pass to Foligno at the right doorstep, who jammed it in to become the third Blue Jackets player to score his third goal on the day.

The Blue Jackets took advantage of an ugly turnover by Kronwall to open the scoring.

Kronwall was behind his own net when his clearing pass was intercepted by Matt Calvert. Calvert circled and fed Atkinson who was all alone crashing the net.

Jonas Gustavsson got a rare start in place of Jimmy Howard for the Red Wings. Gustavsson, who made 21 saves, was playing in only his fourth game this season.

The Red Wings’ power-plays away from home continued to struggle. They were 0 for 3 with a man advantage.