Blue Jackets end losing skid with third period comeback at Colorado
The Columbus Blue Jackets historically bad start to the 2015-16 season got a little better Saturday.
The Blue Jackets, a group that began the year 0-8-0 – the first team since the 1943-44 Rangers to do so – finally got a victory. The Blue Jackets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Said forward Brandon Dubinsky according to the Columbus Dispatch:
“We celebrate it,” Dubinsky said, grinning. “It’s been a long while since we’ve e had this type of feeling in this dressing room. We’ll enjoy tonight, understanding that we’ve got to get to work and that this is the type of effort that we need to win in this league. It was an effort that we were accustomed to before this year started. It was nice to get back to that. It was something certainly that we needed to build off of.”
Boone Jenner led the way for the Blue Jackets with two goals in 15:17 of action. Defenseman Ryan Murray scored one goal and added an assist in the victory. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 34 shots on goal. He has allowed fewer than four goals just twice now in seven games played this season.
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Even though it wasn’t a pretty win for Columbus, it was much needed. The Blue Jackets fired coach Todd Richards and replaced him with John Tortorella on Wednesday. Tortorella is known for his firebrand style and the team responded in the third period.
The Avalanche entered the final frame ahead 3-2, but goals by Murray and Dubinsky gave Columbus the lead. Dubinsky fired the game-winner at the 6:43 mark.
Said Tortorella about Dubinsky, again per the Columbus Dispatch:
“If there is one guy I’m familiar with, it’s him,” said Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who improved to 1-1. “He’s just a competitor. He just does all the things. He may do some stupid things along the way, but it’s always through effort. He was huge at the end, with the faceoffs, the blocked shots. I’m happy for him. He wanted to win this. He wanted to will it. He found a way.”
The Blue Jackets won without first-line center Ryan Johansen, who returned to Columbus with an unspecified illness. There was a rumor that Tortorella benched Johansen in a Thursday loss at the Minnesota Wild because the forward was out of shape. Tortorella refuted that rumor Saturday.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
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