Tortorella praises Bjorkstrand for play off puck

TORONTO — Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal, an assist and five shots in each of the past two games before Wednesday, but Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said he has been impressed with the winger for other reasons.

“I look at what comes before the numbers,” Tortorella said, noting that Bjorkstrand’s competing for the puck, and around the puck, has been “at a whole different level lately.”

Added Tortorella, “He’s the type of guy when he does those things away from the puck, the pucks tends to follow him around. And it does now.”

Tortorella said that 5-foot-11, 168-pound wing Artemi Panarin’s tenacity is a good example for Bjorkstrand, who at 6 feet and 177 pounds has a similar frame.

“I’m hoping he sees that,” Tortorella said. “It’s something we show him all the time — not the end result of scoring a goal but the things that come before it — and I think he’s beginning to understand that.”

Bjorkstrand, who had one point in 13 games before scoring Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, has been active in recent games, with 21 shots in five games leading up to Wednesday.

“He has been a real important fixture on that line with (Alexander) Wennberg and Nick (Foligno),” Tortorella noted. “It has been a good line.”

Korpisalo gets his turn

Backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made his first start in five games, and second in the past 10, against Toronto, and he gave up two goals on the first eight shots he faced.

The Blue Jackets sent Korpisalo to minorleague Cleveland for one start last week.

He entered Wednesday’s game having lost two of his three previous starts for the Jackets, allowing 10 goals on 109 shots faced.

Shook up by shooting

Forward Jussi Jokinen, who played three seasons (2014-15 to 2016-17) for the Florida Panthers, described Wednesday’s school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, as “very sad and frightening.”

Jokinen said the fact that his wife and two children, ages 4 and 6, still live in Parkland, “makes it hit home” for him.

Rising rookie

Center Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the third consecutive game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. In doing so, he moved into a tie for third on the franchise’s all-time list for goals by a rookie.

David Vyborny (2000-01), Serge Aubin (2000-01) and Nikolay Zherdev (2003-04) also had had 13 in their first NHL season. Rick Nash holds the Jackets record with 17 goals in 200203 and Boone Jenner is second with 16 in 2013-14.

Dubois, who also had an assist on Tuesday, has 27 points — eighth most by a Jackets rookie. He needs two to tie Jenner for seventh.

Slap shots

Tortorella said defensemen David Savard and Jack Johnson have played better lately. “Sometimes they try too hard, and they’re looking to make the next play instead of the play right in front of them,” he said. “And then things shut down from there.” … The Blue Jackets used the same lineup as Tuesday night against the Islanders. … The Jackets started Wednesday’s game with eight wins in their past nine games in Toronto. The winning team had scored at least three goals in 11 consecutive matchups and 23 of the 24 games in the all-time series.