Satisfaction.

Blue Jackets 3, Kings 1

Jeff Carter registered 18:39 of ice time in his first encounter with the Blue Jackets since leaving town for Los Angeles. He heard boos for every second of it. When he skated off the ice, fans rejoiced as Columbus won 3-2 against the Kings.

            Wearing Carter’s old number, Jack Johnson’s performance against his former squad was much more impressive. Johnson had one goal, four shots, and led all players in time on ice with 27:20.

            Johnson’s play was inspired throughout the night. He drove to the net with a bulldozer mentality that nearly yielded another goal late in the third period.

            The defenseman’s play was accented by a promotion that allowed fans to change the nameplate on their Carter jersey to J. Johnson during the first intermission. 

            Aside from the fanfare associated with Carter’s return and Johnson’s reunion with the Kings, another storyline stewed the pot. The last time the Blue Jackets played in Los Angeles, they lost as a result of a last-second goal that brought attention to a peculiar stop in the game clock during the closing moments of the game.

            In an attempt to avoid a similar problem, Columbus established an early lead that held for the entire night.

            At 9:14 of the first period, the Blue Jackets opened the scoring when James Wisniewski unleashed a blast from the point that Mark Letestu re-directed to make it 1-0.

            Shortly after the goal, the Kings’ Anze Kopitar tied it up with a shorthanded tally that sneaked past a sliding Steve Mason. Despite surrendering the lead, Columbus continued to feed off the energy in Nationwide Arena.

            Eight seconds before time expired, Johnson scored with a wrist shot from the slot to regain the lead. Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger were credited with assists.

            At 3:07 of the second period, Letestu scored his second goal of the night and seventh of the season to give the Blue Jackets the 3-1 advantage.

            Los Angeles never responded after undertaking the two-goal deficit.

            The Blue Jackets were backed defensively by a joint effort from Mason and Curtis Sanford. Mason left the game in the second period after sustaining a cut on his left hand.  The goalies combined for 29 saves.