Werenski, Jackets top Ducks in OT
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski scored 1:21 into overtime, the first game-winning goal of his career, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Wednesday at Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets (6-3-2) improved to 4-0-1 in their past five games. The Ducks (6-5-3) saw a two-game winning streak end.
Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist, and Boone Jenner also scored for Columbus. Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves.
Rikard Rakell and Nick Ritchie scored for the Ducks, who got 15 saves from John Gibson.
Anaheim tied the score at 2-2 just 1:25 into third period after Bobrovsky was caught out of position behind the net playing the puck. Joseph Cramarossa dished in front, and Ritchie had the final touch for the Ducks as the puck got it caught in Bobrovsky's skates and went into the net.
The Blue Jackets were tenacious with their forecheck, cashing in just 1:23 into the first period when Scott Hartnell, positioned in front of the Anaheim net after a turnover at their blue line, set up Jenner.
After Hartnell's shot was blocked by Gibson, the rebound bounced into the slot. Jenner was following the play and backhanded the puck into the net for his first goal of the season for a 1-0 Columbus advantage.
Just 4:06 later, Ryan Murray made a cross-ice pass from the left dot to Saad in the slot. Saad who one-timed his shot past Gibson to give Columbus a 2-0 lead.
The Ducks began to assert some control in the second period, dictating the pace during Columbus' second power play of the night.
The Blue Jackets had a scare early in the period, as speedy Cam Atkinson blocked a shot and hobbled off to the bench, before heading down the tunnel. He returned to the bench a few minutes later.
Anaheim scored to halve Columbus' lead at 17:21 after Cam Fowler's shot was redirected by Rakell, sneaking between Bobrovsky and the goal post.
NOTES: Blue Jackets D Seth Jones is on injured reserve due tp a hairline fracture of his foot ... LW Sonny Milano was in the lineup for the Blue Jackets. ... Columbus C Brandon Dubinsky is out with a lower-body injury. ... Ducks RW Jared Boll makes his first return to Columbus since his contract was bought out, and he was given a video tribute. He played 518 games for the Blue Jackets ... Ducks D Hampus Lindholm made his season debut, and he finished a minus-1. ... Anaheim scratches were D Korbinian Holzer and C Michael Sgarbossa. ... The Blue Jackets' scratches were Dubinsky and D Scott Harrington.