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Quick Takes – Bob Blanks Devils, Jackets Win 3-0

Despite a snoozer of a start, the Jackets had what they needed to pull off a win in today’s matinee against the Devils after a frustrating loss last night in Ottawa.

After killing back to back penalties in the early first (including Kyle Quincey taking that second penalty to prevent a Jersey goal), the Jackets dug in and started getting looks at Corey Schneider in the New Jersey net, and it paid off early in the second period when Boone Jenner went to the net and was rewarded, with Cam and Dubi picking up the helpers, helping Atkinson continue his career best season and Dubinsky to register his 400th NHL point.

Not long after, BJORKSTRAND! ripped his way through the offensive zone, saving the puck at the blue line before weaving back through the Devils’ defenders, outwaited at attempt to block his shot, and then slammed it home for the 2-0 lead.

Last but not least, Sam Gagner would get on the board midway through the third, cleaning up a Hartnell rebound that squirted past Schneider into the open crease, and slapping it into the empty net.

The 20 save shutout wasn’t Bob’s heaviest workload ever but he took care of a few tough saves along the way to his fifth clean sheet of the season, tying his career best record from his Vezina trophy season.

Time to fly home to Columbus – and see the Devils again on Tuesday night.

That ought to be interesting.