Blue Jackets defeat Senators for sixth straight win

COLUMBUS -- Cam Atkinson spent a nerve-wracking two minutes in the penalty box in the third period of a tie game against the Ottawa Senators at Nationwide Arena on Friday.
Forty-one seconds after he got out, Atkinson scored his second goal of the night to break the tie and help the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory, their sixth straight.

WATCH: [All Senators vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Atkinson received David Savard's pass from the right point and beat goalie Craig Anderson from the left face-off circle at 10:40 to give Columbus a 3-2 lead.
"Timing-wise, it was a bad penalty by me," Atkinson said of the tripping call at 7:59. "Knowing that, our [penalty kill] is pretty solid. I had all the faith in the world they'd kill it off."

Atkinson scored in the first period to end an eight-game drought.
"It felt like I hadn't scored a goal in a couple of years," he said. "It's good to contribute. That's my game. It's nice to be a part of it and get back to the way I'm playing."
Nick Foligno scored his first goal in 14 games with 6:33 left for a 4-2 lead, and Tyler Motte scored into an empty net with 50 seconds remaining to make it 5-2.
"I felt like I was doing a lot of good things tonight to find myself in the right position," Foligno said.
Markus Nutivaara scored his first goal of the season, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for Columbus (15-7-1).
Tom Pyatt and Mike Hoffman scored for the Senators (8-7-6), who are 0-4-1 in their past five games. Anderson made 27 saves.
"The first 10 minutes of the third period were outstanding," Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said. "The power play looked great, just couldn't score. Their goalie played terrific. The [penalty kill] looked good too. We were right there, 2-2."

The Blue Jackets allowed a first-period goal for the first time in nine games when Pyatt scored on a cross-ice pass from Derick Brassard at 10:56 to make it 1-0. It was Pyatt's fourth of the season, first in nine games.
Atkinson tied it 1-1 26 seconds later. He stole the puck from Ottawa forward Alexandre Burrows and scored on a breakaway at 11:22.
Columbus forward Boone Jenner prevented Ottawa from taking a 2-1 lead at 1:26 of the second period. Bobrovsky left a rebound for Pyatt, whose shot was going in until Jenner swatted it off the goal line.
"I couldn't believe it," Boucher said. "It actually bounced on the red line and went backward."
Nutivaara hadn't scored in his previous 45 games dating to Jan. 7 until he gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead at 7:28 of the second with a shot from the left point. Boucher challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld by video review.
"I totally disagree with the goal that was allowed," Boucher said. "We've had the same thing against us. Their guy has his foot in the blue paint and touches our goalie's glove. Our goalie can't get his glove out for the shot. I don't know why that was allowed. It's a judgment call, and we have to live with it."
Hoffman tied it 2-2 at 9:00 of the second.

Goal of the game

Atkinson's goal at 10:40 of the third period.

Save of the game

Bobrovsky stopping Mark Stone's shot at 8:05 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Atkinson's breakaway goal at 11:22 of the first period.

They said it

"It's tough slide right now, a lot of frustration, but when we get through this, we'll be a better team." -- Senators forward Tom Pyatt

"I really appreciate his concentration. That's hard to play a game like that as a goalie." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella on Sergei Bobrovsky facing 12 shots in the first and second periods
"We came in the room 1-1 after one, having been outplayed, and thought, 'You know what? This is maybe a steppingstone where we need to go as a team.' We chased it a little too early there at the end, but I think there's a lot to build on. When you're in this, you've got to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think you can see it a little bit." -- Senators forward Bobby Ryan

Need to know

Ottawa was 0-for-3 on the power play and has scored twice in its past 27 opportunities. … Senators left wing Zack Smith (thumb) is expected to be available Saturday against the New York Islanders after missing six games.

What's next

Senators: Host the New York Islanders on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CITY, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets:At the Montreal Canadiens on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, FS-O, NHL.TV)