Zherdev scored his 14th and 15th goals of the season in the second period and assisted on goals by Rostislav Klesla in the second and Kris Beech (empty net) in the third.

Zherdev has one other four-point game in his career, March 21, 2004, against Vancouver.

Net-minder Pascal Leclaire stopped 23 of 24 shots, coming within about 17 minutes of his eighth shutout this season for the Blue Jackets, who have won three of their last five games.

Eric Staal scored Carolina's only goal at 2:50 of the third. Cam Ward yielded four goals on 20 shots, and John Grahame stopped both shots he faced in relief of Ward.

On the power play, Carolina went 1 for 6 and Columbus went 1 for 4.