Blue Jackets GM thinks team has improved under Tortorella

The Columbus Blue Jackets are 6-4 in November after a disastrous start in October cost Todd Richards his job as head coach. While there's a long way to go - the club's still in last place in the Eastern Conference - general manager Jarmo Kekalainen says he has seen marked improvements under new head coach John Tortorella.

"I think our team is playing better," he said, according to ESPN's Joe McDonald. "We're defensively tighter. Our penalty kill wasn't very good before we made the change, and it's gotten better."

Richards was fired on Oct. 21, after the club's seventh straight loss to open the season. Tortorella lost his first game behind the bench, but the club is 8-7 under his guidance.

"We're just limiting the chances and turnovers," Kekalainen added. "Our offense still has a ways to go, and we have the potential to play much better offensively, but at least we're in every game now and lately we've been getting some results."

The Blue Jackets have scored 42 goals in 15 games under Tortorella, while allowing 37.

"Our practices have been great, so our team is improving," Kekalainen said. "The guys have bought in just by the way they're playing. Guys are blocking shots and battling."

That's the Tortorella way.

Another simpler reason for the Blue Jackets' turnaround: Sergei Bobrovsky. The starting goalie followed up a nightmare month of October - he won two of 10 starts while posting an .865 save percentage - by returning to form in November.

Bobrovsky's 6-2 this month with a .936 save percentage, and a shutout.