Three stars
spot in the Eastern Conference with 67 points and 20 games left.
As for players worrying about being traded, coach John Tortorella said it’s only natural.
“They are human,” Tortorella said. “When a team has been as inconsistent as we have, a lot of things can happen. … I like our team. Do I think we have played up to where we need to this year? No, we have not.”
After beating San Jose in Chicago on Friday, the Blackhawks quickly took a 1-0 lead when a shot by Ryan Hartman went off teammate David Kampf and got past Bobrovsky 1:28 in.
In the waning minutes of the first period, Cam Atkinson got his first power-play goal of the season.
Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the second, but five minutes later, the score was tied again when rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois got his 14th goal of the season.
Tortorella had praise for Bobrovsky.
“Bob was outstanding to give us a chance. And he’s going to have to be because we’re still not where we want to be.”
Josh Anderson, who was dropped to the fourth line for Saturday’s game, picked up his team-best 18th goal of the year when his Josh Anderson, RW, Blue Jackets: Gave team its first lead in third after being dropped to the fourth line Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Blue Jackets: Made 30 saves in another strong performance
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Blue Jackets: Had assist on opening goal and tied the score in second slap shot from the left side with 8:46 left gave the Jackets their first lead.
“Our focus is in this locker room,” said Anderson, who didn’t stick on the fourth line for long. “Whomever they want to put in here, we have to go out there and battle Jones), 17:43 (pp). Penalties-Dubinsky, CBJ, (holding), 6:39; Hartman, CHI, (high sticking), 17:06. SECOND- 3, Chicago, Jurco 1 (Kane, Gustafsson), 9:20. 4, Columbus, Dubois 14 (Panarin), 14:30. Penalties-Sedlak, CBJ, (holding stick), 3:48; Jones, CBJ, (tripping), 11:45.
THIRD- 5, Columbus, Anderson 18 (Jenner), 11:14. Shots on goal- Chicago 11-11-11-33. Columbus 15-8-6-29. Power-play opportunities- Chicago 0 of 3; Columbus 1 of 1. Goalies- Chicago, Forsberg 7-13-3 (29 shots-26 saves). Columbus, Bobrovsky 26-20-5 (33-31). A- 18,792. T- 2:25. through and make a run for the playoffs.”