COLUMBUS (AP) -- No one really expected the Columbus Blue Jackets to dramatically improve after having the worst record in the NHL last season and then trading star player Rick Nash.
One of the players picked up in that deal is giving fans hope, however.
Artem Anisimov scored twice in the second period, and Steve Mason stopped 32 shots to lead the Blue Jackets past the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night.
"I'm still learning Artie and his game," coach Todd Richards said. "Maybe as he starts to figure out his teammates and they figure him out, there may be a lot more there."
Anisimov was acquired last July in the blockbuster deal that sent Nash to the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets also dealt a minor league defenseman and a conditional third-round pick to the Rangers for Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a first-round pick.
Now Anisimov leads the offense-starved Blue Jackets with four goals.
He chose to talk more about what the entire team did than what he accomplished.
"We established the forecheck early and we just kept going, kept going," the 24-year-old center said. "We kept the momentum and just kept going."
Mark Letestu added a short-handed goal, and James Wisniewski also scored for the Blue Jackets before leaving with a concussion after he struck the end boards with his back early in the second period. Fedor Tyutin had two assists.
Mason, who earned his first win of the season, overcame an early goal by Johan Franzen. Damien Brunner added his fourth goal in the final seconds.
PENGUINS 5, DEVILS 1
PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz each had a goal and two assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their first home victory of the season, beating the New Jersey Devils.
Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo scored his first NHL goal, Brandon Sutter got his first with Pittsburgh and Kris Letang also found the back of the net for the Penguins.
CANADIENS 6, SABRES 1
MONTREAL -- Rene Bourque and David Desharnais each scored twice to lead Montreal to a win over Buffalo.
AVALANCHE 3, OILERS 1
DENVER -- P.A. Parenteau and Jamie McGinn scored goals 3 minutes, 29 seconds apart in the second period to help Colorado rally past Edmonton.
RANGERS 3, LIGHTNING 2
TAMPA, Fla. -- Rick Nash scored a go-ahead goal early in the third period, and the New York Rangers beat Tampa Bay.
BRUINS 1, MAPLE LEAFS 0
TORONTO -- Chris Bourque scored his first goal with the Bruins and Boston held on to edge Toronto.
The Bruins threatened throughout the tightly played game, but James Reimer stopped 33 shots from all angles as Boston came at him in waves.
FLYERS 5, HURRICANES 3
PHILADELPHIA -- Claude Giroux and Danny Briere each had a goal and an assist to help Philadelphia beat Carolina.
Kurtis Foster, Brayden Coburn and Mike Knuble also scored for the Flyers, who won for just the third time in nine games.
COYOTES 2, STARS 0
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Smith stopped 17 shots, and Phoenix was at its tight-checking best in a win over Dallas.
Nick Johnson scored his third goal of the season, and Mikkel Boedker netted his second for the Coyotes, who have points in four straight games.
Comments