Blue Jackets 4, Senators 1
OTTAWA -- The Columbus Blue Jackets scored three power play goals and cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators Sunday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Blue Jackets picked up at least a point in each of their last five outings after losing their previous three games in either overtime or a shootout.
It was a disappointing performance for the Senators, who rallied Friday in the third period to beat the Boston Bruins.
The Blue Jackets' goals came from center Derek MacKenzie, center R.J. Umberger, center Ryan Johansen and defenseman Fedor Tyutin.
Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson scored on the power play to pull his team to within three after coach Paul MacLean went with an extra attacker near the 17 minute mark.
Ottawa outshot Columbus 30-22, but much of the play was around Senators goalie Craig Anderson while the outcome was still in doubt.
Senators defenseman Marc Borowiecki was seated in the penalty box for just 8 seconds when Umberger scored to put Columbus up by two at 4:13 of the second. Then, just past the midway mark of the period, a 5-on-3 Blue Jackets power play became an even bigger advantage when Senators defenseman Chris Phillips had his stick break while blocking a shot. Moments later, Tyutin made it 3-0 with a shot from the point.
The Blue Jackets needed just 12 seconds of their first power play to score the game's opening goal. Senators defenseman Marc Methot barely settled into the box when Johansen beat Anderson with a shot to the stick side at 4:50 of the opening period.
The Senators had a couple of chances to tie it. Senators winger Bobby Ryan had a puck bounce over his stick as he attempted to swipe it into the open side during a power play, and center Derek Grant shot wide on a chance in alone. But otherwise, most of the play was in the Ottawa end as the Blue Jackets led 10-5 on the shots clock at the intermission.
Notes: Blue Jackets LW Boone Jenner returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence with a leg injury. Playing on a line with C Brandon Dubinsky and RW Cam Atkinson, Jenner had plenty of jump out of gate. He led all players with five first-period hits. ... Senators RW Erik Condra returned to the lineup after missing six games with a leg injury. To make room for him, the Senators put tough-guy LW Matt Kassian in the press box as a healthy scratch. ... Blue Jackets LW Nick Foligno was playing for the first time in Ottawa since he was obtained in a July 1, 2012 trade with the Senators. Foligno has missed six games this season to be with his family, as his newborn daughter deals with a heart condition. She recently had successful surgery in Boston. "She's doing awesome," Foligno said before the game. "What a fighter. She must be like her mother." ... The Senators have given up the first goal in 14 of 20 games this season. They are 5-0-1 when scoring first.
