COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard felt the deciding goal shouldnt have counted in the Red Wings 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. Vince Carter Jersey . "I guess its something to remember here and keep in the back of our minds -- if you knock the net off, just throw (the puck) in there," he said. "It should count." Cam Atkinson scored a goal confirmed by video replay in the third period, and Ryan Johansen added an empty-netter for his second of the game to lead the Blue Jackets to a win that further tightens the already close Eastern Conference playoff race. On an odd-man rush, Matt Calverts shot from the left wing was stopped by Howard, although the puck popped loose behind the goalie. Atkinson, racing down the right wing, was hit by Detroit defenceman Brendan Smith. Atkinsons leg knocked the net off its moorings as he backhanded the loose puck into the cage as it was sliding away from the goal line. The goal, at 6:58 of the third, was ruled good because Smiths hit on Atkinson had knocked the net loose -- bringing a loud cheer from the crowd of 15,103. "I wasnt really sure," Atkinson said about the goal. "The net went off, but their explanation was the puck was going in as the net was coming off. Matty just made a good play. The puck kind of snuck out between his legs, and I was at the right place at the right time." Columbus, Detroit, Washington and Toronto are all tied with 80 points for places 7-10 in the East. The Blue Jackets win any tiebreaker, and Detroit and Columbus also have more games left (10) than the Capitals (9) and Maple Leafs (8). Columbus had lost three of four. "We got some fortunate bounces," Johansen said after goals 28 and 29. "Thats what we needed." Brandon Dubinsky and Johansen had power-play goals in the first period after the Blue Jackets had failed to score on their previous 36 opportunities with a man advantage over a 10-game span. James Wisniewski assisted on both and added another helper. "You know what Im pleased about? Hopefully after tonight I wont get any more questions about the power play," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "When we scored the first one I said, Good. Now we can stop talking about it." Curtis McElhinney stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief of Sergei Bobrovsky, who left after the first period because of the flu. McElhinney made Atkinsons goal stand with big stops on Darren Helm with 8 minutes left, making a sprawling pad save, and again a minute later on Johan Franzens wraparound. With 1:44 left, he deflected Kyle Quinceys wicked blast from the high slot with his right shoulder. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock refused to blame the call on the Atkinson goal for the loss. "It doesnt matter what I think, obviously," he said. "They made a decision. I thought when the net was off, the goal didnt count but they evidently thought our guy pushed their guy in. So its a goal. Theres no sense disputing that. We had to get one more goal." Gustav Nyquist, last weeks No. 1 star in the NHL, maintained his hot hand with two goals for the Red Wings, who were 3-0-1 in their previous four. He has 20 goals in his last 24 games. "It doesnt really matter," he said of his two goals. "It was an important game. Well forget about this one and move on." NOTES: With a TV camera just a couple of feet away on the other side of the glass during a break, Johansen grinned and tore off a piece of athletic tape and playfully stuck it on the glass to shield the cameras view. ... Howard stopped 23 of 26 shots. ... Last week, Nyquist had six goals and seven points in four games; the Blue Jackets had six goals as a team in their previous five games. ... RW Mitch Callahan, recalled on Monday from AHL Grand Rapids, made his NHL debut for the Red Wings, skating on the fourth line. Grant Hill Jersey . -- The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed cornerback Perrish Cox to a one-year contract. Khem Birch Jersey . The hard-serving 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to be ranked in the Top 10 on the ATP World Tour thanks to his runner-up performance at Rogers Cup in Montreal. https://www.cheapmagiconline.com/758i-jason-williams-jersey-magic.html .C. -- Eric Staal kept his focus after his apparent breakaway goal was waived off early in the third period.PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Brett Lawrie hit his first homer of the spring and the Toronto Blue Jays held AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays to just three hits in a 5-0 victory Friday. Erik Bedard, in his final bid to earn the Rays fifth rotation spot, struggled through 5 2-3 innings. He gave up four runs over 94 pitches, walking one and striking out four. Bedard is in a three-way competition with LHP Cesar Ramos and RHP Jake Odorizzi. Manager Joe Maddon said the decision on the fifth starter will come Saturday morning. "The other guys Im competing with are really good, (so) Im sure its a hard decision to make," Bedard said. "Theyre probably going to crunch some numbers and go with their gut feeling, and well see. When you dont have a guaranteed deal, you have to compete." Bedard signed a minor league deal with the Rays in February. As recently as March 18, he said he would opt out of his contract if he doesnt make the starting rotation, but he appeared to relax his position Friday. "Competition is always fun, but I guess everyone is ready to know," Bedard said. "I feel good, and maybe the numbers dont show, but they show for Ramos, who had a very good spring. Well have to see because I dont make the decision." Bedard has a 6.88 ERA over 17 innings with 13 strikeouts and two walks, while Odorizzi has a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings with eight strikeouts and six walks. Ramos has the best numbers of the competition: a 2.63 ERA over 13 1-2 innings with 11 strikeouts and a walk. "Its not easy," Maddon said. "Theyve all represented themselves extremely really well. We just got to try and figure out how this thing fits and whos going to give us the best chance to win coming out of the gate." STARTING TIME Rays: Opening-day starter David Price threw 106 pitches in a simulated game vs. minor league hitters Friday morning. Price pitched into the eighth inning and said he didnt reach a three-ball count until the last hitter in the seventh. "Curveball was extremely sharp -- it was a good day," Price said. "It was essentially a game, minus an anthem, walkout songs and umpires. Guys were out there trying to get on base and steal. Orlando Magic Gear. It was good." Jays: Aaron Sanchez, the teams 21-year-old top pitching prospect who hasnt been above Class A, looked sharp in his first start of the spring Friday, throwing 5 1-3 scoreless innings, while giving up just three hits, walking three and striking out two over 69 pitches. Sanchez has a perfect 0.00 ERA over 12 1-3 innings of this spring, but will probably be sent to Double-A New Hampshire. "I wont be disappointed if thats what happens," Sanchez said. "Ill go there and keep working to get better." NAVARRO BACK IN AL EAST When the Blue Jays signed journeyman catcher Dioner Navarro to a two-year, $8 million deal in December, they put faith in the former Tampa Bay Rays All-Star would be able to catch more than a 100 games, something he hasnt done since 2009. "Im 100 per cent sure I can play all season," he said. "Physically, mentally and spiritually feel ready and they obviously have faith that I can, too." Navarro will be seeing familiar faces back in the AL East, and for Maddon, thats a good and bad thing. "He helped us become the Rays," Maddon said. "As a young player, he was very calm through some stressful situations and threw out some good baserunners in some big moments. I like him. Ive always like him and really happy its worked out well for him, though not liking that hes in our division now against us." Last season, Navarro started 89 games for the Chicago Cubs, hitting 13 homers with a .300 average. He knows coming back to the AL East will be a challenge. "Everyone always talks about the (AL) East -- always have, so its no different (to be back)," Navarro said. "You have to have your A game every day." TRAINERS ROOM Rays: Juan Carlos Oviedo said he wont be ready by opening day because of his visa issues getting into the country. Oviedo said hes feeling good and expects to pitch Sunday vs. Boston in Fort Myers. . Matt Joyce received more treatment for his stiff neck, and Maddon said he was uncertain about when he will return to the lineup. . Jose Molina has not played in the previous two games, but Maddon says its not injury related. ' ' '