GLENDALE Youth Sam Hubbard Jersey , Ariz. (AP) Cam Atkinson viewed his extended absence from the Blue Jackets as a chance at a fresh start. In his first game in more than a month, he came up big.
The veteran forward scored with 3:03 left to give Columbus a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.
Returning from a broken foot that sidelined him for 11 games, Atkinson tipped in Alexander Wennbergr17;s shot. Wennberg also scored to help the Blue Jackets win for the second time in five games.
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r1;It was a chance for me to hit the reset button,r1; Atkinson said. r1;I donr17;t really want to remember the first half (of the season). It wasnr17;t great.r1;
Columbus won its sixth consecutive game against Arizona and snapped the Coyotesr17; season-high five-game points streak.
Sergei Bobrovsky had 38 saves, outdueling Antti Raanta Youth Cordy Glenn Jersey , who stopped 25 shots for Arizona in a game that was scoreless after two periods. This was the last game for both teams before the NHL All-Star break.
r1;The second half of the second period we just turned the thing over left and right, thatr17;s when (Bobrovsky) came up big,r1; Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. r1;We had it going our way the first half of the second period and then we got stubborn through the neutral zone. I think we gave up eight scoring chances based on six turnovers by ourselves. Bob made some key saves.r1;
The scoring didnr17;t come until the third period, first with the Blue Jackets on a power play. Wennberg deflected teammate Seth Jonesr17; shot into the net at 1:19.
The Coyotes drew even on a power play after an interference call on the Blue Jacketsr17; Josh Anderson. They tied it with 12:21 to play when Brendan Perlini gathered a loose puck that popped out of the crease amid a pileup of players and scored. Perlini, playing his 100th career NHL game Youth Preston Brown Jersey , surpassed Peter Mueller for the most goals (28) in his first 100 games with the franchise.
The goal was reviewed for interference with the goaltender, but upheld. Perlini has a goal in four consecutive games.
r1;Her17;s playing hard and from October to now, her17;s one of our most improved players,r1; Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. r1;If he plays inside the dots, her17;s going to get a lot of goals in this league.r1;
After a largely uneventful first period Youth Mark Walton Jersey , both teams were more active in the second. Raanta thwarted a chance that developed from a series of passes, catching Matt Calvertr17;s blast from the point at 7:17 of the period.
Bobrovsky extended his right leg to stop Jakob Chychrunr17;s shot through traffic with 4:35 left in the second. Neither team put the puck in the net in the second 20 minutes of the game.
A scuffle between Coyotes All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Columbus top-liner Artemi Panarin in the crease resulted in roughing penalties for each with 55 seconds to play.
The Blue Jackets went on a power play, the first of the game, 17 seconds into the final period when Arizona defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was called for tripping. Columbus cashed in with Wennbergr17;s fifth goal.
Atkinson said he screamed at Wennberg for the puck leading up to the winning goal. Wennberg said he didnr17;t hear his teammate.
r1;I just saw his stick,r1; Wennberg said. r1;This is the way I want to play. I want to be a player that makes a difference in a game.r1;
NOTES: The Blue Jackets activated Atkinson from injured reserved before Thursdayr17;s game Youth Logan Woodside Jersey , and Atkinson played on the Columbus second line. r30; Columbus assigned F Nathan Gerbe to Cleveland of the AHL. r30; Coyotes D Alex Goligoski was scratched with an illness, his first missed game of the season. Goligoski had played in 213 straight games. r30; F Jordan Martinook was able to play despite being a game-time decision with an upper body injury. r30; C Brad Richardson did not return after the first period and left the game with an upper body injury, it was announced after the second. D Jason Demers also left with an upper body injury in the third. Tocchet had no update on the two after the game.
