The Columbus Blue Jackets returned to Nationwide Arena Monday after a disappointing loss in Nashville Saturday, in which they gave up 2-0 and 3-2 leads before falling in overtime 4-3. On Monday, they took a 2-0 lead in the first period against the visiting Edmonton Oilers, but this time the offense kept going for a 6-1 win.

Monday also saw the return of Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins had been out of the net for the last four games after losing twice to begin the season. The first two of those games, he was a scratch with an upper body injury. On Monday, he saved 31 of 32 shots in the CBJ victory, the only Oilers’ goal coming with 26.8 seconds to go in the game.

“It definitely feels good,” Merzlikins said after the game. “It was frustrating to start the season like this, especially when the boys have success and you can’t join that feeling, because … the last two years  we didn’t have that much success, right, so now it feels good. And it’s amazing, it’s a good feeling.”

One of the big stories coming out of Monday’s contest was that Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid went out on his first shift with a lower body injury after sliding into the boards and did not return. According to the team, McDavid will head back to Edmonton for evaluation.

The Blue Jackets didn’t waste much time after that to get on the scoreboard. Just 2:18 into the first period, and Columbus on the power play, Sean Monahan scored the first of his two goals on the night. The Jackets would add two more goals in the first, one each from Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, to make it 3-0 at the first intermission.

The Blue Jackets scored one in the second period, when Mathieu Olivier found a loose puck in the crease and sent it past Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner. It was Olivier’s fourth goal of the young season. His next goal will match his highest output for any single season in his career.

In the third, Mikael Pyythia recorded the first goal of his NHL career. The team erupted on the bench, joining the celebration. Adam Fantilli anticipated his linemate’s chances to score. “I walked in before the game and I told him I was thinking about it all day. He had to get one tonight.” After the goal, Fantilli pointed to the net to make sure someone grabbed the puck. “I’m pumped for him. You never forget your first goal.”

The third period ended after Monahan’s second score and a goal from Edmonton’s Mattias Elkholm as the clock wound down. It was a resounding win for Columbus, one in which the Blue Jackets played well in all phases of the game, especially in being aggressive on the forecheck all over the ice.

When asked about how other teams should look at the Blue Jackets’ early play, Cole Sillinger remarked, “What we want to make sure is that when teams are playing the Blue Jackets that it’s not going to be easy. We’re going to be in your face. We’re going to be playing fast. We’re going to be tenacious, We’re going to be relentless and we’re going to execute.”

It’s a busy week for the Blue Jackets. They host the New York Islanders Wednesday and the Winnipeg Jets Friday, before traveling to Washington to take on the Capitals Saturday.