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Wisniewski, Blue Jackets cast out Devils

Oct 23, 2013 - 3:03 AM Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - James Wisniewski posted a goal and two assists, as Columbus dispatched New Jersey, 4-1, in the first matchup between new Metropolitan Division rivals at Nationwide Arena.

Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson and Marian Gaborik supplied the other tallies for the Blue Jackets, who have won two straight following a four-game losing streak.

"We played a smart systematic game. I liked the way we managed the puck and I liked how we managed our shifts," said Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards, whose club improved to 29-0-0 when leading after two periods under his leadership.

Columbus also put the brakes on a five-game losing skid to their Tuesday foes, stretching back to a 3-2 overtime decision on Dec. 11, 2005 on home ice.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots to earn his first win over New Jersey since December of 2010.

Michael Ryder scored and Cory Schneider made 20 saves for the Devils, who fell to 1-5-3 on the year.

Columbus led 3-1 with 4:12 gone in the third, when Wisniewski's floater from the point was accidentally redirected home by a Devils defender trying to remove Atkinson from screening his goaltender.

"That's just a save you need to come up with at that point in the game," Schneider offered, saying he didn't think it deflected off anyone.

New Jersey failed to score on a mid-period advantage, and pulled Schneider twice for an extra skater in the final two minutes. Gaborik's empty-netter came with 24.4 seconds remaining.

Following a scoreless opening period, the Devils cracked the scoreboard early in the second. On the advantage, Jaromir Jagr controlled on the right boards, before slipping a pass into the circle for Ryder and his wrister sailed home inside the far post at 6:24.

The Jackets evened the score on their ensuing chance with the extra man, when Dubinsky flipped home a Wisniewski rebound that caromed off R.J. Umberger from atop the crease with 9:56 played.

It was a 2-1 game for the hosts as Atkinson got the better of fellow BC product Schneider on a backhander from an odd angle with 4 1/2 minutes left in the second.

Game Notes

Columbus continues its four-game homestand by welcoming Toronto on Friday ... Coming into play, Schneider held a career 6-1-1 record and 1.92 GAA in eight games against the Blue Jackets, all for Vancouver... The Devils scratched forward Patrik Elias for the second straight game due to an illness ... Bobrovsky improved to 2-2-1 vs. New Jersey, winning for the first time since a 5-3 decision with the Flyers on Dec. 4, 2010.