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National Hockey League
Columbus 4, Calgary 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, December 16, 2016
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Referees: Jean Hebert, Dean Morton
Linesmen: Vaughan Rody, Bevan Mills
Attendance: 18045

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking like the force is with them these days.

Four different players scored Friday and they were solid throughout the lineup in extending their winning streak to eight games with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Boone Jenner, Brandon Saad, Sam Gagner and Matt Calvert scored for the Blue Jackets (19-5-3) and Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves.

"I think we've had a really good mindset where we're just trying to approach every day as a new day and trying to get better. I think that mindset has been huge for us. Hopefully we can keep it going here,"

said Gagner.

Gagne picked up a crucial power-play goal early in the third when a shot from the point hit him and ricocheted in for a 3-1 advantage.

"I thought it touched me on the way through but I wasn't sure. A few guys said it looked like it did," Gagner said.

Sean Monahan replied for the Flames (16-15-4), who dropped back-to-back home games after compiling a six-game winning streak that ended with a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

The Blue Jackets can match their franchise-best winning streak Sunday in Vancouver, when they close out a three-game Western Canadian road trip.

As well, Columbus head coach John Tortorella can earn his 500th NHL win in Vancouver against a team he once coached.

"It means nothing," he said when prodded. "It means I've been in the league a long time."

Tortorella was more excited about a fight involving center Alexander Wennberg, who entered the night with two minor penalties this season.

He squared off against Calgary's tough rookie Matthew Tkachuk just 53 seconds into the game and held his own.

"For him to stand in there and right in front of our bench ... that's important for the camaraderie for the tightness of the bench to see that guy stand in there," Tortorella said.

Chad Johnson faced 29 shots in the Calgary goal. He was replaced after the second period against Tampa Bay and, after the recent hot streak, is suddenly explaining losses.

"Last couple games, it's been frustrating because guys are trying to block (shots) and they're just getting piece of them or pucks are floating through three guys. You try to stay with it and it's going this way then all of a sudden it changes," Johnson said.

The Blue Jackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Jenner pounced on a rebound when he was left unchecked in the slot at 3:46 and Saad snapped a shot past Chad Johnson from 20 feet out at

14:22.

"When you get results and you play the right way, it's encouraging and you want to do it again," said Jenner.

"We wanted to get off to a good start and obviously getting that goal early and Saad scoring gave us the start we wanted and we got better from there."

Calgary capitalized on a two-man advantage opportunity to get on the board late in the first. Monahan set up shop in front of the net and one-timed a pass from Kris Versteeg past Bobrovsky at 16:35.

Columbus took control in the second period. Werenski's shot from the point deflected in off Gagner during a power play at 1:14; and they made it 4-1 when Calvert broke in alone from the far blue line after a giveaway by the Flames' Johnny Gaudreau and slid the puck between Johnson's pads at 7:31.

"They had a lot of good chances tonight," Flames captain Mark Giordano said. "Way too many times they walked through us in our slot and created a lot of good chances. We've got to be better."

NOTES: Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski is drawing notice from observers during the team's Western Canadian trip and is being touted as a Calder Trophy candidate as the league's top rookie. He had nine goals and 18 points in 27 games entering Friday. "I think one of the big things they added was Werenski. Watching the video here, he is all over it," Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said. ... The Blue Jackets' healthy scratches were RW Oliver Bjorkstrand, D Dalton Prout and D Scott Harrington. ... For the Flames, D Tyler Wotherspoon, RW Garnet Hathaway and C Freddie Hamilton were healthy scratches. Wotherspoon hasn't played since being recalled from Stockton of the AHL four games ago. ... Neither team had injuries to report. ... The Flames entered the game with a streak of six games with at least one power-play goal. The last time they scored in at least seven straight was Oct. 20-Nov 1, 2005.
Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Calgary
Zach Werenski 2 Points Sean Monahan 1
Matt Calvert 1 Goals Sean Monahan 1
Zach Werenski 2 Assists Johnny Gaudreau 1
Sam Gagner 1 Power Play Goals Sean Monahan 1
Matt Calvert 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Sergei Bobrovsky .957 Save Percentage Chad Johnson .862
Sergei Bobrovsky 22 Saves Chad Johnson 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 29 4 1-3 4-5 15 29
Calgary 23 1 1-5 2-3 13 22
Upcoming Games
  • Calgary will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Flames have a W/L % of .562 after a win and .412 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against Vancouver. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .684 after a win and .667 after a loss.