Blue Jackets 4, Wild 0: Curtis McElhinney made 20 saves as host Columbus recorded his second straight shutout.
Nick Foligno and R.J. Umberger each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who won their third consecutive home game. Cam Atkinson added his first goal in five games and rookie Boone Jenner scored for the first time since October 17.
Niklas Backstrom stopped 37 shots in his first start in five games for the Wild, who fell to 5-6-3 on the road. Minnesota looked gassed after rallying to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks at home the previous night.
Atkinson opened the scoring 1:17 into the second period with a wrist shot that floated past Backstromâ??s blocker. Foligno extended the lead 4:23 later by jamming home a rebound on the doorstep with Columbus on a power play.
Jenner made it 3-0 firing a wrist shot over Backstromâ??s glove and into the top corner 4:38 into the third. Foligno set up Umberger with a pretty behind-the-back pass on an odd-man rush 4:27 later to cap the scoring.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Columbus has not allowed a goal in 137:45. McElhinney has stopped all 28 shots he has faced since replacing injured starter Sergei Bobrovsky. â? Blue Jackets F Ryan Johansen added two assists, giving him nine points in his last six games. â? Minnesota lost to a Metropolitan Division opponent in regulation for the first time, falling to 4-1-1 against the division.
