Jenner, Murray lead Blue Jackets to 5-2 win over Sharks

0

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets played their best game of the season, according to Brandon Saad. He wants to keep it going.

Boone Jenner and Ryan Murray scored within 30 seconds of each other late in the second period, and Columbus beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Tuesday night.

“Any time you can score at the end of the period, it’s huge,” Murray said. “You get to go into the locker room feeling good and carrying momentum. To get two is a bonus.”

Saad, Scott Hartnell and Matt Calvert also scored for the Blue Jackets, who extended their winning streak over the Sharks to three games.

“Everybody brought their ‘A’ game,” Saad said. “Confidence was high and everybody did a good job of making good plays with the puck and not just throwing it. It was fun playing that way. We have to remember that and keep it going.”

Sergei Bobrovsky, pulled early from Columbus’ 3-2 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday, bounced back with 41 saves. The Blue Jackets have won three of five since opening the season with eight straight losses.

Joe Pavelski scored twice for the Sharks, who have lost six of eight after opening with four consecutive wins. Martin Jones was lifted after stopping 17 of 21 shots through the first two periods. Alex Stalock made two saves in the third.

“We were sitting on our heels a little bit,” Pavelski said. “We have to break that mold. We have to start winning games.”

The Sharks went 0 for 4 on power plays and are 0 for 13 at home thus far.

Saad, acquired from Chicago in a high-profile trade during the offseason, scored his fifth goal — and second in two games — midway through the first on a power play. Planting himself in front of the net, he was in position to push the rebound of a shot by Brandon Dubinsky off Jones’ arm and into the net.

Pavelski, who has goals in five straight, tied the score late in the first on a redirect of Justin Braun’s long shot.

Hartnell netted his third goal in four games to put the Blue Jackets back in the lead midway through the second. He dug it out behind the net and made a nice reverse move to get a clear shot.

Pavelski responded 3 minutes later with his second goal of the night. Joonas Donskoi stole a clearing pass and fed the puck to Pavelski, who beat Bobrovsky one-on-one.

Jenner’s fourth goal in five games put Columbus ahead to stay. Hartnell beat Brent Burns to the puck behind the net and sent it out to Jenner, who powered it over Jones’ right shoulder. Murray added another goal 29 seconds later.

“We did all the right things,” Murray said. “The bounces came in our direction and we controlled the puck really well. We were getting open for each other and that’s what you have to do.”

Calvert added an empty-net goal in the third.

Notes: F Joel Ward was named the Sharks Foundation “Sharks Player of the Month” for October. … F Bryan Lerg was recalled from the AHL before the game, his fourth recall in 15 days. D Karl Stollery was also recalled and was a healthy scratch. … Blue Jackets D David Savard played in his 200th NHL game. … Dubinsky has points in five of his last six games. … Donskoi got his first career assist. … Columbus C Ryan Johansen had his first points in six games. … The Blue Jackets travel to play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night and the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. … The Sharks host the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

No posts to display