WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets kept it simple according to their coach John Tortorella. They checked well and were rewarded with their fourth straight win of the young NHL season.

"You could tell we had really good energy when the game started," Tortorella said after the Blue Jackets downed the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Tuesday night. "I thought it was the best checking we've done all year long and I think that helped us create offense. I thought we were quick I thought we were simple. But to me it comes from our legs. I thought we checked with our legs. We always had people above the puck. That caused a lot of problems in the neutral zone for them and we were able to counter."

The Jets struggled early but escaped serious harm until the second period, when Columbus scored four of its five goals.