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Don’t tell Torts, but the Jackets’ Corsi has been really good lately

Columbus Blue Jackets v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 17: Head coach John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets reacts on the bench during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 17, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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John Tortorella may not have any time for “the Corsi and the Fenwick,” but his Columbus Blue Jackets are starting to show well in those possession stats. And wouldn’t you know it? Their record has been pretty good, too.

In the Jackets’ last 12 games -- starting with that 10-0 win over Montreal on Nov. 4 -- they have the NHL’s eighth-highest score-adjusted Corsi, per Puck On Net. Columbus is 7-2-3 over that stretch and currently occupies the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

On Saturday, the Jackets fell 2-1 in the shootout at Florida, but they outshot the Panthers, 37-23.

Individually, Brandon Saad leads the Jackets with a 56.2 percent Corsi. He scored the tying goal in Florida, his sixth goal of the season. Nick Foligno (53.4%) and rookie d-man Zach Werenski (52.9%) have also fared well in the Corsi department.

Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovksy (11-5-2, .929) has been very good in goal all season, but he’s had to do far less work of late. In his last six starts, he’s averaged just 23.5 shots against. That compares to his first six starts, when it was 32.8.

Read more: Werenski learning the rigors of an NHL schedule

Tortorella was pleased with how his team performed on Saturday.
“To hang in there, stick in there in the third period and find a way to score a goal, get a point, we’ll go home feeling pretty good about ourselves the way we grinded away here in a busy week,” Tortorella told reporters.

It’s going to get even busier soon. The Jackets host Tampa Bay Tuesday. After that, it’s 14 games in the month of December, starting Thursday in Colorado.