EDMONTON, Alberta -- With a 96.6 percent success rate, the Blue Jackets have the No. 1 penalty kill in the NHL. But even that gaudy number doesn't fully reveal how impressive the unit has been this season.

How about this? The Blue Jackets have scored more goals killing penalties (three short-handed) than they have allowed (one).

Or this: The Jackets' penalty kill has scored more goals than Nashville's power play (one) and as many as the power plays for Florida and Ottawa (three).

"We started working on it the first day of training camp," center Antoine Vermette said. "We stressed having a penalty kill that could really make a difference, and that's what it's been for us so far. It's been dangerous in a good way."

The Blue Jackets made only one offseason move that affected the penalty kill, but it was a big one. Sammy Pahlsson, a Selke Trophy candidate for best defensive forward with the Anaheim Ducks, was signed as a free agent to replace Manny Malhotra, who ended up signing with San Jose.

"Pahlsson is one of the best, if not the best, in the NHL, just a great penalty-killer," said assistant coach Gord Murphy, who coaches the unit.

There's more to it than Pahlsson. The Blue Jackets changed their philosophy, too. In 2008-09, they stressed staying in position in the defensive zone, but they didn't make it difficult enough for the opposition to get set in the attack zone.

Coach Ken Hitchcock said he stole a few ideas from other NHL teams. When asked to identify them, he smiled and said: "I can't recall."

This season's group begins putting pressure on the puck-handler beginning in the neutral zone or farther up the ice if, as winger R.J. Umberger said, "we see a back turn."

"When one guy jumps, it's a signal for everybody to go," Umberger said. "All over the ice, the pressure we're trying to apply is greater."

By defending the puck farther up the ice, the Blue Jackets are trying to force the puck out of the middle toward a side, where options for the puck-handler are limited.

The strategy has worked wonders. The Blue Jackets have killed 28 of 29 penalties, including 26 in a row.

"When you get off to a good start, there's a confidence that goes with it," Hitchcock said.

The Blue Jackets also have been helped by the penalty-killing presence that is Rick Nash. With his pterodactyl-like wing span and keen offensive instinct, he's one of the elite threats in the NHL to score a short-handed goal.

The 3-on-5 goal he scored Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to Calgary was his second short-handed goal of the season and his 11th since the start of the 2007-08 season, tied with Philadelphia's Mike Richards for the most in the NHL.

"Rick is really dynamic in his ability to read the play," Hitchcock said. "His anticipation in the zone is excellent right now."

Vermette agreed that the opposition, even with a man advantage, seems at times preoccupied by Nash's presence.

"I'm sure he's a factor in their minds a little bit," Vermette said. "If you have the puck on the blue line, you're going to be aware that No. 61 is out there."

aportzline@dispatch.com