Blue Jackets 3, Wild 1
Antoine Vermette scored a power-play goal to snap a tie late in the second period and Curtis Sanford turned aside 28 shots as the Columbus Blue Jackets skated to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Rookie defenseman David Savard recorded his first career NHL goal and also assisted on Jeff Carter's tally for Columbus, which posted its first win in three tries versus Minnesota this season.
After Wild defenseman Nick Schultz was sent to the penalty box for hooking, Vermette made the Wild pay only eight seconds later. He collected a loose puck and made a nifty move around Niklas Backstrom for his seventh goal of the campaign and first in 10 games.
Vermette's tally came with 4:29 remaining in the second period - and Carter doubled the advantage 5:38 into the third after poking home a loose puck on the doorstep for his 12th goal of the season.
Sanford held the fort from there to improve to 5-2-0 in his career versus Minnesota.
Playing in his 18th career game, Savard opened the scoring with a blast from the point at 8:59 of the first period.
Signed to a two-year extension on Monday, rookie defenseman Nate Prosser netted his first career NHL goal and Backstrom finished with 34 saves for the Wild.