Jenner’s goal worthy of highlight reel

The one-handed goal Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby scored off the rush against Buffalo on Tuesday may be the “goal of the year,” as many have said.

But the Blue Jackets’ Boone Jenner has an entry in the discussion.

On Sunday, Jenner was deep in Devils territory, killing a penalty while three New Jersey players — forwards Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri and defenseman Andy Greene — tried to wrest the puck off his stick.

Jenner rimmed the puck along the wall, then went to the net as Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson fired from the left point.

When the rebound shot low in the left circle, Jenner outworked Greene again, this time swatting the puck back at goalie Cory Schneider, who kicked it into the net.

“I was just trying to keep it away, kill some time,” Jenner said. “I was able to get it back to the point, and when the puck went on net we got a couple of bounces.”

OK, so Jenner’s not his own best salesman.

But the way Jenner’s point production has peaked in the last few months is the cause for much optimism within the Blue Jackets.

Jenner’s two goals in Sunday’s win give him 16 on the season — not bad for a guy who had two goals in his first 21 games.

“Jenner struggled early on as far as getting the points,” coach John Tortorella said. “He’s in a situation now where he’s playing his best hockey at the right time.

“When we start the real stuff, he’s in a real good frame of mind as far as what he has to do.”

Lineup changes

Veteran left wing Scott Hartnell was a healthy scratch against Toronto, the first time he’s been scratched this season.

Lukas Sedlak, who returned to the lineup on Sunday in New Jersey, took Hartnell’s spot on the fourth line with center William Karlsson and right wing Matt Calvert.

“We’ve gotten healthy and we’re going to certainly look at some different things to try to get the best lineup,” Tortorella said.

Also, defenseman Markus Nutivaara returned to the lineup on the third pair next to veteran Kyle Quincey.

Scott Harrington, who played the last two games in Nutivaara’s spot, was a healthy scratch.