NEWARK, N.J. — Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said forward Cam Atkinson is one of
his team’s most talented players.Atkinson backed up his coach’s faith on Friday night.Atkinson scored in
the shootout to lead the Blue Jackets to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils.Curtis McElhinney made 16
saves for Columbus, which has won three in a row. Artem Anisimov scored the Blue Jackets’ goal in
regulation.“Big two points,” Richards said. “I liked the way that we played. I thought we managed, I
thought we played hard from the start to the finish.“They’re a good team and they’re going to get their
opportunities; they had their opportunities and Curtis made some saves for us. As far as a 60-plus
minute effort we probably got efforts from everyone tonight.”New Jersey has lost two in a row. Martin
Brodeur stopped 29 of 30 shots, and Adam Henrique scored for the Devils in the third period.“I think our
goalie gave us a chance tonight to hang around and get our legs,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “I feel
fortunate we got a point. Our goaltender gave us a chance to get a point tonight and we have to do
better tomorrow night.”Atkinson scored the only goal in the shootout.“I was kind of watching to see what
the guys were doing,” Atkinson said. “It seemed like they were shooting and I’m a deker. I saw the
opening in the five-hole. “Anisimov gave Columbus a 1-0 lead 7:34 into the game when he roofed a Brandon
Dubinsky rebound over Brodeur.“I found a rebound,” Anisimov said. “I saw him lay down, spread the legs,
and I tried to put it up.”The goal was the 11th of the season for Anisimov, and for Dubinsky, his assist
was seventh point in three games against the Devils this season.The Blue Jackets had opportunities to
take control in the second, but could not solve Brodeur. He made 10 saves in the period, highlighted by
stopping Atkinson on a breakaway at 1:24.The Columbus right wing blocked Eric Gelinas’ point shot, and
then beat the New Jersey defenseman to the loose puck in the neutral zone to begin the play.While
Brodeur was busy in the first two periods, McElhinney only faced nine shots on goal and stopped them
all.But New Jersey began to pressure Columbus in the third. The Devils had eight shots on goal in the
period and finished with 17 for the game.The offensive attack paid off when Henrique drew the Devils
even at 1-1 at 5:45 of the third when he shoved a rebound of a Patrik Elias shot past McElhinney before
crashing into the Columbus goaltender. The goal was the seventh of the season for Henrique.