The Columbus Blue Jackets came into their New Year’s Eve showdown 6-4-1 in their last 11 games Dec. 31 games at Nationwide Arena. But for Columbus, the only number that mattered was the one that goes in the win column.
After a 1-1 stalemate through two periods, the Blue Jackets broke through for five third-period goals, the top line of Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Cam Atkinson combined for nine points (three goals, six assists), and Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves as the Blue Jackets defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-3.