“Bobrovsky has a chip on his shoulder,” Tortorella said. “He’s probably one of the hardest, most concentrated players I’ve ever seen. I had a goalie in New York, Lundqvist, very similar. He’s been the backbone of our team. I’m proud of him, because that was hard for him last year. He was either hurt or he was average, and he knew it.”

Known for his lightning-fast reflexes, Bobrovsky has been plagued by groin injuries in his career. But this year, he changed some workout habits and lost about 17 pounds of lean muscle in the off-season.

Even though they have lacked a bona fide 40-goal threat since trading Rick Nash to the Rangers in 2012, the Blue Jackets are tied for the league lead in goals per game with an aggressive style that is uncharacteristic for a Tortorella team. Columbus also has the N.H.L.’s most explosive power play, converting 27.7 percent.

Foligno said the power play was succeeding with tenacity and skill. The quarterback is Zach Werenski, a 19-year-old former University of Michigan star, whose 21 points lead all rookie defensemen. Cam Atkinson, the team’s top point scorer with 31, is on pace for a career year. Sam Gagner, who signed a one-year deal for $650,000, has resurrected his career with 13 goals after the Philadelphia Flyers sent him to the minors last season. Alexander Wennberg, a 22-year-old Swedish playmaker, has blossomed into a first-line center in his third N.H.L. campaign.

“Werenski’s added a whole dimension up top — he can get the shot through and has great vision,” Foligno said. “Cam is such a great shooter on the back door. And Sam has done an unbelievable job in the middle of controlling the play and taking some pressure off Wenny. When you give that kind of player time, it’s just worked really well for us.”

So far, Werenski has been the most vital addition. As a Detroit youngster, Werenski idolized Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings, who won seven Norris Trophies. Drafted eighth overall in 2015, Werenski has partnered effectively with Seth Jones, the No. 4 pick in 2013, who arrived in Columbus in a trade last January.

At the beginning of 2016, Werenski was named the best defenseman at the world junior championship in Finland. He helped the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League win their first Calder Cup. Now he is earning consideration for the N.H.L.’s rookie of the year trophy, despite the more-publicized exploits of Patrik Laine in Winnipeg and Auston Matthews in Toronto.