Korpisalo makes 37 saves, Blue Jackets defeat Jets

COLUMBUS --Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets (17-34-4), who had lost five of six (1-4-1).
"The bye week [last week] was good for us," Laine said. "Everyone could look in the mirror and think about what they want to do the rest of the year. We need to try and build momentum for next year, show these young guys what winning hockey is. Try to learn it now so we're ready for next year."
Kyle Connor scored, and David Rittich made 21 saves for the Jets (34-20-1), who had a three-game winning streak end.
"You go out there to win every single game," Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. "It doesn't matter who you go against, but it's definitely one we should have one."
Kent Johnson gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 9:40 of the third period with a shot from the right face-off circle that surprised Rittich. Johnson faked a pass to the slot before scoring his 12th goal through the pads 10 seconds after a Blue Jackets power play expired.
"I was looking for a pass and didn't want to force one through the seam," Johnson said. "I thought I could surprise the goalie there. It wasn't a hard shot. If he sees it, he probably saves it. I didn't even see it go in."

Boone Jenner scored into an empty net with three seconds left for the 3-1 final.
Korpisalo made 14 saves in the third period.
"The guys did a good job letting me see the puck, blocking shots," he said.
Connor gave the Jets a 1-0 lead on the power play at 19:58 of the first period when he scored from the right dot off a pass from Blake Wheeler for his 25th goal of the season.
"Give their goalie credit, he played a good game," Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. "But the other point is there were times we had some Grade A's we missed the net on, and too many times he saw the puck and trapped the puck, so the greasy goals weren't going to be there in that period. But we played a really good period."
The Jets had a 12-2 advantage in shots in the first period, tying the Blue Jackets' season-low set in the first period against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 21.
"It wasn't the start we wanted, but our goalie kept us in it," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "There was nothing going on in that period. All the best teams, you watch them, and they have periods like that. They do. But one goal is a lot different than three. You get some momentum, and you're one shot away."
Laine tied it 1-1 at 10:00 of the second period on a power play when his shot from the left circle went to the upper-right corner for his 15th goal but first in eight games. He has three goals in two games this season against his former team.
"Our power play was pretty good tonight," Laine said. "We probably could have had a couple more."

Rittich saved Erik Gudbranson's breakaway at 15:48 of the second after stepping out of the penalty box to end a 5-on-3 Winnipeg power play.
Former Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois had a short-handed breakaway stopped by Korpisalo at 17:20.
The Jets failed to score on three two-man advantages and were 1-for-7 on the power play. The Blue Jackets went 1-for-5.
"When you're on the power play, you always want to score, or at least get momentum," Ehlers said. "We got one, but it wasn't enough. We didn't hit the net enough. We didn't make it hard on their goalie."
NOTES: It was the second time Columbus killed three 5-on-3s. The other was March 12, 2011, at the Carolina Hurricanes. … Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly played his 400th NHL game. … With Jets assistant coach Brad Lauer recovering from a herniated disk in his back and unable to travel, Manitoba (American Hockey League) assistant coach Eric Dubois, father of Pierre-Luc, is on the four-game trip. … Connor (one goal, four assists) and Wheeler (three goals, three assists) each extended his point streak to four games.