Korpisalo, Blue Jackets sweep back-to-back with win against Red Wings

DETROIT-- Gustav Nyquist returned to Little Caesars Arena with a goal and an assist to help the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Tuesday.

Nyquist, who played his first 481 NHL games with Detroit, was playing here for the first time as a visitor. He assisted on a tiebreaking goal in the first period and scored into an empty net in the third period.
"This is something I'll always remember for sure," Nyquist said. "They gave me a tribute in the first period, and this place is always going to be close to my heart after being here for so many years. It was really nice to come back and get a win."
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings highlights]
Joonas Korpisalo made 18 saves for the Columbus (14-14-6) one day after shutting out the Washington Capitals 3-0. The Blue Jackets have a point in five straight games (3-0-2).
"Playing on back-to-back nights is tough, and it was also hard to stay in the game when they weren't getting any shots," said Korpisalo, who made seven saves in the first two periods. "It was actually a little easier when they got a few more shots in the third."
Adam Erne matched his NHL high of two goals for Detroit (9-24-3), which lost its second straight and is 2-12-2 in its past 16 games.
"Adam Erne was probably our best player tonight -- that was his best game as a Red Wing -- but we've got a bunch of guys who are good hockey players that aren't playing as good as they can," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "We've got to pick it up and play way better hockey than that."

The Red Wings were outshot 27-10 in the first two periods but the game was tied 3-3.
"They played a good road game on a back-to-back," Detroit forward Dylan Larkin said. "We didn't generate enough chances all game. They've got big, good skating defensemen who make it hard to get to the middle, but we didn't generate enough on our forecheck."
Columbus tied it 3-3 at 6:54 of the second period on the power play on Kevin Stenlund's first NHL goal in his second game. Pierre Luc-Dubois gave the Blue Jackets a 4-3 lead at 1:19 of the third period, and Nyquist scored with seven seconds left for the 5-3 final.

"We played well until the end," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "We stopped skating in the third and [Korpisalo] had to make some big saves late, but I thought we mostly played well."
Columbus took a 2-1 lead at 12:06 of the first period when Oliver Bjorkstrand scored off Nyquist's no-look backhand pass.
"I gave him the puck and tried to find some open ice," Bjorkstrand said. "I got open, but I can't say I was expecting him to make that pass. That was just a great play."
Erne gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 5:11, on a one-timer from the right face-off circle. It was his first point in 28 games this season.
"It took a while, but I'm hoping I can get something going now," he said. "I felt like I was playing good hockey, but nothing would go in."
Cam Atkinson made it 1-1 at 11:02, tipping in Dubois' pass during a delayed penalty. Erne scored his second at 17:17 to tie it 2-2.
Detroit took a 3-2 lead at 1:58 of the second period when Tyler Bertuzzi deflected Filip Hronek's point shot.

They said it

"We have to monitor his workload, but we also need to know what he's capable of doing. In the last couple years, he has progressed well, so we've got to see if he can play the 53-60 games it takes to be a starter. I've wanted to get (backup) Elvis [Merzlikins] more work, but we have to balance that with finding ways to win games and get back in this race." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella on the decision to start Joonas Korpisalo
"My 9-year-old plays hockey and he's allergic to the puck sometimes, he just gets rid of it as fast as he can. That's kind of the way we played tonight. That's all about confidence, moxie and swagger, and we're the only ones who can give ourselves that." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill

Need to know

Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke left the game in the first period after blocking a shot. "He's out for a while," Tortorella said. "I think his hand is broken." ... Bjorkstrand has three goals in his past two games. ... Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski returned after missing seven games with a shoulder injury. He was a plus-2 in 23:46. ... Erne had two two-goal games for the Tampa Bay Lightning (against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 29, 2018, and the Dallas Stars on April 2, 2017).

What's next

Blue Jackets: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-W, NHL.TV)
Red Wings: At the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, CBC, SN360, SNO, FS-D, NHL.TV)