TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Marc Denis made 37 saves for his third shutout of the season Friday to give Columbus a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay.
Defenseman Rostislav Klesla scored his first goal in almost a year to help get the Gerard Galant era off to a successful start.
On Thursday, Blue Jackets president and genera manager Doug MacLean resigned as coach and named his assistant, Galant, interim coach. The move came after Columbus went just 9-21-4-3 and recorded a league-low 25 points in its first 37 games.
Columbus has had trouble in close contests with 12 of its losses coming by a single goal -- including an NHL-high nine in regulation.
Denis turned aside 12 shots in the first period, 10 in the second and 15 in the third for his 12th career shutout. Klesla scored his first goal since March 8 -- a span of 34 games.
