to get one more goal." Gustav Nyquist, last

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. "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. Thurman Munson Jersey . The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. Jorge Posada Jersey .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. http://www.yankeesrookiestore.com/Yankee...er-Kids-Jersey/. -- Cordell Cato scored his first goal of the season and the San Jose Earthquakes survived a full half playing a man down to beat FC Dallas 2-1 Saturday night. Bernie Williams Jersey .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed defenseman John-Michael Liles on injured reserve Tuesday. Andy Pettitte Yankees Jersey . -- Jake Paterson made 39 saves as the Saginaw Spirit halted the Guelph Storms seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action.Aston Villa have confirmed the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as their new manager on a two-year contract. Di Matteo was identified as new owner Dr Tony Xias preferred choice at the time of his takeover.The 46-year-old Italian won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 but has not managed in the second tier of English football since 2009-10, when he won promotion for West Brom. Another former West Brom manager, Steve Clarke, is expected to be named as Di Matteos assistant - Clarke has previously been a member of Jose Mourinhos coaching staff at Chelsea and at Liverpool where he worked under Kenny Dalglish. Sky Sports speaks to Aston Villa fans on the streets of Birmingham about the imminent appointment of former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo Sky sources understand that his appointment as assistant at Villa is now likely to be completed on Monday.Villa will be Di Matteos fifth club after spells at MK Dons, West Brom, Chelsea and Schalke. He has taken charge of 167 games in that time and won 82 of them, a win rate of 49 per cent. The Birmingham club have been without a permanent manager since Remi Garde left in March, with Eric Black completing tthe season in caretaker charge of the team.ddddddddddddDi Matteo said: Its a wonderful honour for me to become manager of this great football club and Im looking forward to the challenge of taking Aston Villa back to its rightful place.Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League with just 17 points after a very poor campaign in which they won only three league games and were beaten 27 times. Former Aston Villa defender Steve Staunton believes the club has reached a low point and the takeover is good news They were sold to Xia last month after being put on the market by Randy Lerner in 2014. It is understood Xia paid between £60m and £70m for the club which New York-based investor Lerner bought 10 years ago.Xia has confirmed he is willing to spend large sums of money on players during the next transfer window to help get Aston Villa straight back into the Pr