Blue Jackets top the Devils

Artemi Panarin was the perfect setup man Friday night.

The 26-year-old forward had a record-tying performance with five primary assists, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils and a split of their home-and-home series.

Panarin dominated throughout and equaled the club mark for assists set by Espen Knutsen against Calgary on March 24, 2001. The five points also tied the Blue Jackets’ mark for a single game, accomplished for the fifth time.

“I’m very happy. However, I try to keep my emotions in check,” Panarin said. “Tomorrow’s another game and I know this is just a sport and sometimes you do the same and it doesn’t result in a goal.”

Panarin’s big night helped the Blue Jackets regain a share of the Metropolitan Division lead with Washington. Both teams have 37 points in a crowded race, one more than New Jersey.

After losing 4-1 to the Devils in Columbus on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets gained a measure of revenge while also snapping a two-game skid.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Lukas Sedlak, Scott Harrington, Alexander Wennberg and Zach Werenski scored for Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves.

“He’s a special player, for sure,” Harrington said about Panarin. “He makes a lot of plays that other guys wouldn’t think of doing. He’s been great for us all year and he’s pretty underrated how hard he works in the defensive zone and how tough he is on the puck. We needed a spark and he did that for us.”

Brian Boyle, Marcus Johansson and Blake Coleman had the New Jersey goals. Cory Schneider stopped 23 shots.