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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With what lies ahead, it was particularly refreshing for the Columbus Blue Jackets to have a rare game that didnt come down to the final seconds. Boone Jenner and Mark Letestu each had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 shots for his second shutout in 72 hours to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday night. "We seem not to do anything the easy way," Letestu said with a laugh. "To get four (games) in five (days) to finish off the season, its very Blue Jacket of us -- doing things the hard way and probably earning our way into the playoffs." Columbus ends its home schedule on Tuesday night against Phoenix and then closes the regular season with games at Dallas on Wednesday, then at Tampa Bay and Florida on Friday and Saturday. The win not only boosted the Blue Jackets in the standings, it also helped them wipe away the bitter taste of Friday nights 4-3 home loss to Stanley Cup champion Chicago. Ben Smith jammed in a goal during a scrum with 3.9 seconds left in the Blackhawks win. "That was one of those (where) its a punch in the gut," coach Todd Richards said. "So, yeah, it was nice to get that one to put (Fridays loss) in the distance." The Blue Jackets, desperate to hang on to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, matched a season high with three power-play goals. It wasnt lost on Jenner that his first goal was similar to Smiths on Friday. The goalie made the initial stop, but then couldnt get to a loose puck while several players crashed the net, sticks flying, all trying to get to it. "Especially with that first power play, we wanted to get on them early," Jenner said. "It was a big goal." Camped at the doorstep, he tipped a shot by Letestu that Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson got a piece of, but the puck slipped between his pads and rested behind him, just short of the goal line. It sat there for 3 seconds before Jenner worked his way around the goalie and jammed it in for his 14th at 4:26. On their next power play, the Blue Jackets swiveled the puck from the left boards to right, with Johnson tucking a one-timer inside the far post. It was his first goal in 21 games and fifth this season. Ryan Murray also ended a long scoring drought, and Brandon Dubinsky had two assists. Bobrovsky, who won at Philadelphia 2-0 on Thursday, earned his fifth shutout of the season. He improved to 10-2 against the Islanders while allowing just under two goals a game. Columbus won at home after going 1-4-2 in its last seven games at Nationwide Arena. "Weve let some slip away, so we were pretty focused on not letting that happen," said Letestu, whose even-strength goal midway through the second period ended a string of 22 games in which he had not scored. "That was an important two points." Columbus has 87 points, two fewer than Philadelphia -- the third-place team in the Metropolitan Division race -- which beat Buffalo on Sunday night. The Blue Jackets currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They created some breathing room Sunday as New Jersey and Toronto are now three points behind them, and Washington is another point behind those teams. Nilsson made 29 saves for the Islanders, who had their seven-game point streak (5-0-2) ended. Despite being without top players John Tavares and Kyle Okposo, they had played well with a lineup stocked with 10 rookies. "To be honest with you, this is the first game in a while I feel we werent there collectively as a group," Islanders defenceman Travis Hamonic said. "Weve been playing some really good hockey, especially the young players." New York coach Jack Capuano conceded this was a step back in the learning process. "Weve got some games left with these kids and were going to go out and teach and play structured and work hard," he said. NOTES: The Blue Jackets had failed to convert on 36 consecutive power plays, but they have turned things around by going 9 for 24 in the seven games since that drought. ... Jenners 14 goals are the second most by a Blue Jackets rookie (Rick Nash, 17 in 2002-03). ... D Scott Mayfield made his NHL debut for the Islanders. ... Nilsson faced the Blue Jackets for the first time. Wholesale Devils Jerseys . After all, the No. 8 seed is chasing far loftier goals. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., defeated American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in Wimbledons second round on Thursday. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. http://www.cheapdevilsjerseys.com/ .com) - Fair Grounds commences its road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday with the 71st running of the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. Cheap New Jersey Devils Jerseys . The Laval Rouge et Or defensive back/kick-returner gained the invitation following his showing Sunday at an NFL regional combine in Baltimore. Cheap Devils Jerseys . His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hello Kerry, Hope all is well and youre enjoying your retirement. My question to you is what do referees do in between games to stay physically fit? Do you guys travel with personal trainers? Wondering more about a referees experience between the games travelling and things you did to blow off some steam and de-stress. Take care, Shane Armstrong Shane, Without prejudice and to a man, I have to say that NHL referees and linesmen are the most physically fit group of professional officials you will find in any sport. To be perfectly candid, it wasnt always that way. The good news of today however is that the "donut" box has long since been pushed aside and replaced with a much healthier lifestyle along with a personal commitment to fitness; one that is not only mandatory but fully supported by the NHL Officiating Department. At the very least the speed, size and athleticism of the modern-day NHL player demand this commitment from each member of the officiating team. An excellent income and good standard of living they are able to provide for themselves and their family is also a motivating factor. While the guys dont travel with a personal trainer, the NHL employs David T. Smith in this capacity. Dave (brother of former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Barry Smith) served as the certified physical therapist and strength/conditioning coach for the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers until he was hired by the NHL to work directly with their officials. Smitty designs a program and schedule for each official to follow throughout the summer months in preparation of a strenuous fitness test they are required to pass on the first day of training camp. A separate program is also provided for maintenance throughout the season and playoffs. Dave not only monitors their fitness throughout the entire year but is also responsible for injury rehabilitation and obtaining medical clearance for an official to return to active duty. Unlike a hockey team that lives and travels together throughout a season, the fact that a total of 77 members of the NHL officiating team are scattered across North America presents somewhat of a challenge for Smitty. Working from his home base in Buffalo, Dave attends games in that city and Toronto to personally touch base with crews assigned there. The demands of commercial air travel throughout the season must be properly managed by each official. Typically, an official flies over 1550,000 miles per season and can be away from home for more than 20 nights a month.dddddddddddd There are no charter flights with meals prepared for an official or any home games, either. Getting the proper rest, diet, fitness and injury management is required of each individual official. Self-discipline is required to meet these challenges. A typical game-day routine would find the officiating crew assemble for a light breakfast and conversation in the Marriott Hotel concierge lounge between 8am and 9am. They then regroup in the hotel health club for a mid-morning workout consisting of light cardio, stretching and some weight training. On non-game-days, each official will balance his workout intensity with a travel schedule that often includes moving on to a different city for back-to-back games. (Officials are required to book travel that finds them arrive in a city no later than Noon on the day of a game.) Post-game unwinding takes place after the crew returns to their hotel, unpacks their sweaty equipment to air dry (in their hotel room) and perhaps make a call home to touch base with the days events. A light meal and a few adult beverages of choice are usually consumed in the hotel bar. If guys have a day off the next day, they might decide to "blow off steam" outside of the hotel. Moderation is always the first and best intention. Each official will manage his down time depending upon personal interests and how his body feels. Thirty of the best cities in North America are frequented. Some warm-weather destinations are visited in the dead of winter where guys can play golf or catch some sun around the pool to recharge their batteries. Each NHL city or the surrounding area has a unique charm and history if an official takes the time to look around and smell the roses. I found sightseeing an enjoyable way to spend free time; whether in Old Montreal; skating on the Canal in Ottawa; a drive, bike ride or hike in the mountains around Calgary or Denver or Sonoma near Phoenix; the sheer beauty of Vancouver no matter where you look; walking the docks of Marina del Rey or Venice Beach near LA ; day trips to Napa wine country or Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco when working a Sharks game; fishing, sailing or golfing on both ocean coasts. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture, Shane, its crucial to maintaining a high level of fitness and proper time management! Oh I almost forgot, NHL officials are paid quite handsomely for the abuse they sometimes take. God, I miss all of it. Have a great weekend everyone and be sure to manage your time wisely. ' ' '