Jackets kill 6 Jets power plays

When a team is forced to kill six penalties, it usually takes its toll. On Friday night, the Blue Jackets said they were energized by the extra work.

After stopping Winnipeg six times when the Jets had an extra skater, the Jackets got an overtime goal from Josh Anderson to rally for a 2-1 win at Nationwide Arena.

The Jackets have killed off all 16 penalties they have incurred on home ice this season.

“I was just throwing it at the net, and it went in,” said Anderson, who beat former Jackets goalie Steve Mason after Mason lost his stick with 2:22 left in the overtime session. “Killing all of those penalties really helped us going into the third period as we played the right way. We found a way to get two points.”

Said Seth Jones: “The kill gave us energy from just doing it time after time. … We faced adversity and stuck with it.”

Just over a week ago, the Blue Jackets rolled into Winnipeg riding a three-game winning streak and dominated the Jets in a 5-2 win. Friday’s rematch was much different.

Down 1-0 to Mason and the Jets, Cam Atkinson tied the game midway through the third. The Jackets killed off their sixth penalty late in regulation but moved into overtime with a little momentum.

“Special teams have to be your best asset,” Atkinson said. “We didn’t get much going on the power play, but they didn’t, either. It’s one of those games where whomever blinked first … to cash in is a good feeling.”

Winnipeg, coming off an overtime loss Thursday at Pittsburgh, grabbed an early lead and watched Mason stand tall. The goalie, who gave up all five goals in last week’s loss, was perfect until Atkinson whacked at a puck in

Finished things off in style by scoring the winner with 2:22 left in OT

Trailed 1-0 early but kept the Jets at bay after that

Former Jacket made 35 saves as he bounced back from a rough loss to Columbus last week

the slot, his backhander finding a way.

Sergei Bobrovsky, who forced Mason’s exit from the Jackets in 2013, made 29 saves, including a big one on Blake Wheeler in overtime.

The Blue Jackets usually work on special teams a few minutes before their usual practice day begins. The two teams had a total of 10 power-play chances, with no goals to show for them.

The Jackets were forced to kill four penalties before the Jets were flagged for their first offense, as Shawn Matthias was called for interference 7:50 into the second.

Brandon Tanev put the Jets on the board at 4:52 into the game when he followed up his shot and swept a loose puck into the net. His initial offering trickled behind Bobrovsky and sat 1:52; Matthias, WPG (interference), 7:50; Wheeler, WPG (high sticking), 10:21; Columbus bench, served by Milano (too many men on the ice), 12:02; Little, WPG (high sticking), 15:27.

2. Columbus, Atkinson 4 (Jones), 10:23. Wheeler, WPG (tripping), 3:23; Savard, CBJ (roughing), 14:16. unattended until Tanev rushed in and got a piece of it for a 1-0 lead.

The Jets ended up having three power-play chances in the first.

“The kill was great; we didn’t give them much but maybe two or three shots,” Bobrovsky said. “They did a hell of a job taking time and space away from them.”

Said John Tortorella: “Once we started killing penalties, I think it woke us up. We didn’t give them much, but Bob made some key saves at key times. These are the games we won last year … It’s not how you play 40, 50 minutes; it’s about winning a game when it’s there.

“I’m thrilled about the win. Do we have some things to work on? Yeah. But I’m thrilled we won this type of game.”