Anton Stralman and Kristian Huselius scored for the Jackets, with Rick Nash assisting on each goal. Derek Brassard and R.J. Umberger also had assists, while Steve Mason had 22 saves for his third win in four starts.

“We worked really hard tonight; we came out with good focus tonight” Stralman said. “The power play was good. We scored the one goal and the second goal, even thought it wasn’t on the power play, was the result of us (pressuring) on the ice. We got some good puck movement and some shots off.”

The Jackets connected on one of four power play attempts, but the second goal came seconds after one expired.

Huselius has a four-game point streak with two goals and three assists. Nash now as four straight multi-point games, a feat he also did in January 2005.

Columbus, with its 4-1-0 (eight points) start, is off to its best start in franchise history. They sit a point ahead of Chicago for the Central Division lead after play Tuesday.

“We aren’t used to this,” Nash said. “You know it’s fun. We’ve got a great group of guts; everyone’s tight and you know it shows on the ice. We’re helping each other in games, playing well on the road and it’s fun to win.”

Curtis Glencross scored for the Flames, who have dropped three straight games after winning its first four. Mikka Kiprusoff stopped 31-of-33 shots.

Glencross, a former Blue Jacket, tipped in a slap shot by Rene Bourque to give the Flames the lead with 3:41 left in the first period. Mason appeared to be screened on the initial shot that came from high above the right point.

“We had a good first period and then we backed off in the second,” Flames coach Brent Sutter said. “We took a couple of penalties and that changed things for us.”

Stralman tied the game with the Jackets on a two-man advantage with a shot from the left circle with 4:28 remaining in the second. The former Flame and Toronto Maple Leaf said he was fitting in quite well with his new teammates.

“It’s a real easy group to come in with,” Stralman said. “We’re having a lot of fun and that’s a big key to be successful.”

As the second power play expired, Huselius went between the legs of Kiprusoff off a feed from Nash to give Columbus a 2-1 lead.

Columbus had two scoring chances in the third period that could have extended the lead. Jakub Voracek, who was a monster with the puck, had a point-blank shot that was stoned by Kiprusoff.

Antoine Vermette scored off a R.J. Umberger shot, but the official blew the whistle early, nullifying the goal. It didn’t phase the Jackets, who continued to play hard and earn the one-goal victory.

“I think our players were not happy about it,” Hitchcock said. “In our eyes, it was a legit goal. We stayed focused. We seem to be able to play these (close) games and not lose our rhythm. We played a very good third period and we didn’t sit back and play on our side of the red line.”

Calgary made one last push in the final minute with Kiprusoff pulled, but Mason stood tall with a key save on Olli Jokinen with 1:18 remaining to preserve the win.

The Jackets host Los Angeles Saturday at 7 p.m.



dave.seaman@columbuswired.tv
Twitter: @daveseaman94