Dubinsky scores 2 in Jackets' win in Toronto
TORONTO -- John Tortorella would like to see Brandon Dubinsky shoot on the goal more.
The Columbus Blue Jackets coach feels that his center misses the net too frequently with his shots.
Dubinsky got the message Wednesday. Two of his shots got behind Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Garret Sparks and the Blue Jackets went on to a 5-1 victory.
"If we're going to progress as a team, he has to score more," Tortorella said. "He's a guy that ends up with a lot of chances but shoots the puck wide a lot.
"It's something we've talked a lot a number of times. Just don't miss the net. Miss in the net. I'm not saying the puck is always going to go in the net but at least miss on the goalie so you can break down the defense. Too many pucks are shot wide by him and he has more to give. He knows that."
Dubinsky has 17 goals on the season and his first of the game late in the second period put the Blue Jackets into a 2-1 lead.
Left winger Brandon Saad, right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand and left winger Matt Calvert also scored for Columbus (32-40-8).
Calvert and right winger Cam Atkinson each added had two assists.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored for the Maple Leafs (28-41-11), who lost four in a row. Toronto finished its home schedule at 14-18-9.
The Blue Jackets broke open the game with three third-period goals.
"We had the lead and we just wanted to make sure we played a strong road period and try to force some turnovers," Dubinsky said. "We were able to do that. ... and once we got one they just started coming."
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots in the Columbus goal.
Toronto goaltender Garret Sparks made 27 saves.
"We have to learn how to start better a little better," Calvert said. "It was a great finish. I think we had a lot of fun out there in the third period, making some plays."
The Leafs took the lead early in the second period. The Blue Jackets answered with two goals before the period expired.
The Blue Jackets took a three-goal lead on two quick goals in the third. Bjorkstrand scored his third goal of the season at 8:43.
Calvert scored his ninth goal of the season at 9:39.
Dubinsky scored his second goal of the game at 12:50 of the third.
"I didn't think either team was very good in the first," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "When you turn pucks over and don't play well without it, it ends up in your net. We had some guys that turned the puck over, we turned the puck over way too much tonight."
Toronto opened the scoring short-handed at 1:43 of the second period. Rielly converted a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle for his ninth goal of the season. He took a drop pass from center Frederik Gauthier before firing home the wrist shot.
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau was serving a delay-of-game penalty at the time of the goal.
Columbus tied the game at 11:13 of the second on the 29th goal of the season by Saad on a shot from the low slot after a Toronto turnover.
The Blue Jackets took a 2-1 lead at 17:31 of the second on the first goal of the game by Dubinsky, beating Sparks high from the slot.
"Both goals in the second period are correctable," Maple Leafs center Brooks Laich said. "Just goes to show how tight the league is. Columbus is a very good hockey team and the league is very opportunistic, so when you do make a mistake usually it'll end up in your net."
NOTES: The Maple Leafs recalled C Sam Carrick from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL on Wednesday on an emergency basis. LW Rich Clune was sent to the Marlies on loan. ...The Blue Jackets assigned LW Sonny Milano to Lake Erie of the AHL and recalled D Justin Falk and RW Josh Anderson on an emergency basis. Falk played in Wednesday's game for D Cody Goloubef (oblique), who missed the game Wednesday with an injury. ...LW Scott Hartnell returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Monday for the 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers. ...The Maple Leafs will play the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday in their next-to-last game of the season. ...The Blue Jackets play the Sabres in Buffalo on Friday in their second-last game of the season.
