DALLAS — Sergei Bobrovsky was flawless as the last line of defence. The Columbus Blue Jackets goalie had plenty of help up front on Saturday night.
Bobrovsky earned his 13th career shutout in Columbus’ 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars.
He had 32 saves for the second night in a row, with the Blue Jackets winning both after losing their first two games of the season. Dallas is 0-1-1 in the last two games, both at home.
“(Bobrovsky) played good,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. “I don’t think he steals a game, but he just looks solid. We were in total control of that game, I felt. You have to give everybody credit because it was a team win tonight.
“I thought we had the right amount of patience slash aggression.”
Josh Anderson led Columbus’ offence with a goal and an assist, but he talked about Bobrovsky.
“You saw him in the World Cup. He played phenomenal. I think he’s just carrying that over to this team. He’s really comfortable and confident. Sometimes when we make mistakes, he’s there to cover them up.”
Anderson tapped in the game’s first goal at 16:04 of the second period. Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen couldn’t slide back into position after Boone Jenner passed across the goal mouth.
“(Anderson)’s been very consistent,” Tortorella said. “He adds so much speed to our lineup, as far as the forechecking, scores a big goal, very responsible away from the puck. He has been solid.”
Scott Hartnell scored at 9:02 of the third period, with assists from William Karlsson and Anderson. Matt Calvert added an empty-net goal with 1:12 to play.
Columbus has won seven of the last 10 games between the teams. Bobrovsky is 8-1-1 in his career vs. Dallas.
Lehtonen had 23 saves.
Dallas outshot the Blue Jackets 9-7 in the scoreless first period, and had nothing to show for a 15-8 advantage in shots on goal in the second.
“There was a span of 4 or 5 minutes in that second period when we started playing a little bit of pond hockey, turning the puck over, and let them counter on us,” Tortorella said. “But for the most part I thought our concentration was really good, understanding we’re in a back-to-back situation.”
The Stars’ best scoring chance came midway through the second period, when Bobrovsky stopped Devin Shore’s tip-in attempt.
Anderson’s goal came with Dallas captain Jamie Benn and the Blue Jackets’ Brandon Dubinsky were in the penalty box for fighting.
The goal was set up after a Dallas pass intended for Brett Ritchie, skating in toward the goal, didn’t reach him because it hit a linesman. Ritchie was late in skating back on defence, so Columbus had a manpower advantage.
“We got a little lucky break from the refs,” Tortorella said. “One of the refs said they felt awful about it. But it happens, it’ll happen against us this year.”
Columbus’ Cam Atkinson sent a penalty shot wide left at 9:39 of the third period. It was awarded because the Stars’ John Klingberg slid his stick into Atkinson’s path on a short-handed breakaway.
“We’re turning way too many pucks over,” Klingberg said. He had 5 of Dallas’ 12 giveaways. The Blue Jackets had only three.
NOTES: Dallas’ injury-riddled front line was without two forwards hurt in Thursday’s game. Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms) was placed on injured reserve, and Patrick Eaves (lower-body injury) was scratched. Taking their places were Ales Hemsky, back from a groin injury, and Gemel Smith, recalled from Texas of the AHL for his NHL debut. … The Blue Jackets were without D Ryan Murray, who was elbowed in the jaw during Friday’s win over Chicago. … Columbus was 0 for 2 on the power play and Dallas 0 for 5, but two of those lasted just 3 seconds each.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Columbus, in a stretch of five games in eight days, will play the second of four straight road games on Tuesday at Los Angeles.
Stars: They’ll complete a three-game home stand on Tuesday against Winnipeg.
