Columbus locks down playoff spot

By The Associated Press

Making the playoffs for the third time in franchise history is just the first step for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There’s much more serious work ahead for coach John Tortorella and his team in the next few weeks: making a run at the Stanley Cup.

Lukas Sedlak and Brandon Dubinsky scored on penalty shots and the Blue Jackets returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 with a 4-1 victory in New Jersey.

There was some in the visiting Blue Jackets’ locker room before it opened and Tortorella said he wanted his players to enjoy the night. Then it’s back to work.

“It gives us an opportunity to talk about it,” Tortorella said of clinching. “We are in. To me, it’s the start of a against Washington in 2009.

“Whatever the situation arises you have to find a way to overcome them and we didn’t,” Devils coach John Hynes said.

Other games

Jets 5, Wild 4: Josh Morrissey one-timed in a goal with 7:17 remaining to end visiting Minnesota’s rally and give Winnipeg a victory.

Blackhawks 6, Avalanche 3: Jonathan Toews scored twice and Richard Panik and Artemi Panarin each had one to erase Colorado’s two-goal lead and rally host Chicago past the Avalanche.

Flyers 4, Hurricanes 3: Travis Konecny tied it with 42.9 seconds left in the third and Brayden Schenn scored 38 seconds into overtime to lift host Philadelphia past Carolina.

Canadiens 4, Senators 1: Paul Byron and Nathan Beaulieu scored third-period goals to lead host Montreal to a win against Ottawa.

road. You work that hard throughout the year; it gives you an opportunity to start your journey that you want to be on.” The win was the fourth in a row for the Blue Jackets and gave them their first 100point season and moved them into a tie with...