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After big win in Philly, Jackets need to keep their ‘foot on the pedal’

Braydon Coburn, Brandon Dubinsky, Blake Comeau

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Brandon Dubinsky, center, celebrates with Blake Comeau, right, after Dubinsky’s goal, as Philadelphia Flyers’ Braydon Coburn skates by during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2014, in Philadelphia. Columbus won 2-0. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

The attitude the Blue Jackets assumed when they got the lead last night in Philadelphia is the same one they need to keep with six games to go in their regular season.

“I like how we kept our foot on the pedal,” defenseman James Wisniewski said, per the Columbus Dispatch. “We played it smart, but we didn’t lay back and just defend the whole time. Our defense was active, and we supported each other. It wasn’t them just coming in wave after wave until something bad happens.”

The Jackets came away with a 2-0 victory, the franchise’s first ever in Philly. Tonight, they host Chicago with a chance to go three points up on idle Toronto, currently the team with the best chance to catch them for a playoff spot.

The Blackhawks -- minus Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- also played last night, beating Minnesota in a shootout at the United Center. Which is to say, it’s not the worst time to welcome the Stanley Cup champs to Nationwide Arena.

“We’re in a good position,” said forward Brandon Dubinsky. “It’s not like where we were last year when we had to continue to watch and hope and chase teams. We’re right where we want to be.”

As we wrote yesterday, the Jackets have a golden opportunity to to give their long-suffering fans some playoff excitement.

Now is not the time to take their foot off the pedal.