In Columbus, Zach Werenski scored for the Blue Jackets with 32 seconds left in regulation to force extra time with the Minnesota Wild on Friday night.
“Great screen in front,” Werenski said. “A lot of times you shoot those and the goalie moves over to make the save. He really couldn’t see.
“We had to dig deep to find a win tonight. For our young guys, even for older guys, a win like this is really important. For us to stick with it and come out with two points is huge.”
Yegor Chinakhov, who had a goal in regulation, scored the only marker in the skills competition to give the Blue Jackets a 3-2 win.
Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves in the Columbus win, the victory snapped a four-game schneid.
“I got tired of working my [butt] off and not getting the results I want,” Merzlikins said. “I just thought, I’m not going to think anymore. I’m just going to go out, play hockey and have fun.”
Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello scored for the Wild.
“We hung around in the game against another really good team and found a way,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “Elvis was outstanding. We knew he was going to have to be huge for us and he was.”
Columbus moved to 29-27-3.
“They kept pushing and got a break at the end,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “We make a mistake and it ends up in our net.”
Minnesota fell to 34-19-4).
Kaapo Kahkonen made 26 saves in the Wild loss.
“There was a lot of traffic in front of the net,” Kahkonen said. “Obviously, 6-on-5 there’s a lot of bodies and it’s unfortunate luck.
“Three out of four points (in the back-to-back games), I guess that’s OK. We want the fourth one, obviously. We look forward, and if we keep playing the way we played the last two periods tonight, I think we’ll be good.”
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