Curtis McElhinney was solid in goal Sunday for Columbus as the Blue Jackets found a way to beat Vancouver. McElhinney, the journeyman goaltender signed to a one-way contract this summer to be the team's backup, stopped 37 pucks and limited the high-powered Canucks to one goal.

I thought not bringing in competition for McElhinney this summer was a mistake. McElhinney had done little in his previous NHL stops to show he could be a quality understudy in the league but he was sharp Sunday. If he can play at that level all year the Jackets will be just fine in goal with McElhinney and Bob.

RJ Umberger, whom I identified as one guy the Jackets needed more from, tallied his first marker of the season. Ryan Johansen skated into the offensive zone and skirted the blue line until Umberger could get in behind the defense. Johansen slid a pass between the legs of Chris Higgins and Umberger netted the go-ahead goal, beating Eddie Lack five-hole.

Johansen added an empty-net goal, assisted by Umberger as both players finished with two point.

Marian Gaborik put Columbus on the board early in the first period deflecting a shot by Artem Anisimov by Lack. It was Gaborik's third tally on the young season.

Vancouver outshot Columbus 13 - 2 in the first period but still trailed after one. They would knot the game up in the second on a PP goal by Henrik Sedin. With the puck underneath McElhinney and several players from both sides crowding the crease, Sedin, trying to get at the puck ended up pushing the Jackets goalie beyond the goal line. As McElhinney slid over the line the puck skittered out from under him and into the back of the net. I thought they could have waived the marker off since Sedin pushed McElhinney into his net but veteran referee Don Van Massenhoven allowed the goal.

McElhinney made perhaps his best save with less than a minute remaining and the Jackets nursing a one goal lead. Higgins fired a snapshot from right in the slot but McElhinney made an outstanding pad save on the shot.

While the Canucks did outshoot Columbus 38 - 29, the Jackets did a pretty good job of keeping Vancouver out on the perimeter. Few of the Canucks chances could be called premium, grade-A scoring chances. Those that were McElhinney was up to the task on.

Johansen was good, particularly in that third period. His pass to Umberger was perfect and he made the play in the neutral zone with his speed. I've often said he can be an excellent two-way center and he has played up to that level over the last few games.

Next up the Jackets play host to the Devils. New Jersey earned their first victory, a 4 - 0 thrashing of arch-rival New York, on Saturday night. Cory Schneider draws the start for the Devils and he will be opposed by Bob.

Patrik Elias and Ryane Clowe are both out for New Jersey while Damien Brunner is questionable. That's a lot of firepower out of the Devils lineup but they were able to overcome those absences Saturday night and should not be overlooked tonight.

For Columbus it appears the flu that kept Gaborik out of the lineup for one game has now been passed on to James Wisniewski. The veteran blue liner was sent home from the morning skate and was called a "game time decision" by head coach Todd Richards.

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