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Blue Jackets use 4-goal third period to beat Blackhawks 6-5

By AP reporter
Published  February 11, 2021 10:23pm CST
Blackhawks
Associated Press

CHICAGO - Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic, Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Stenlund scored during a wild third period, and the Columbus Blue Jackets stopped Chicago’s three-game win streak with a 6-5 victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Cam Atkinson set a franchise record with his 15th career short-handed goal as Columbus won for the third time in four games. Atkinson also had three assists, Roslovic scored twice and Kevin Stenlund had a goal and an assist in the Blue Jackets’ first game since veteran center Mikko Koivu announced his retirement Tuesday.

Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat each had a goal and two assists for Chicago, which dropped to 4-2-1 at home. Rookie defensemen Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin each scored their first NHL goal 56 seconds apart in the second period.

Chicago led 4-2 after Kane sent a wrist shot past a screened Joonas Korpisalo for a power-play goal 29 seconds into the third period. But Columbus responded with two rebound goals in 80 seconds.

First, Jenner slammed one home from right in front for his fourth. Then Roslovic got his second of the game when he beat Lankinen from the bottom of the right circle 7:59 into the period.

After DeBrincat got the lead back for the Blackhawks at 13:05, the Blue Jackets bounced back again. Atkinson banged a shot off the cross bar and Del Zotto knocked it in for the tying goal with 2:41 to go. Then Stenlund put Columbus ahead to stay with his second of the season with 1:14 left.

Beaudin committed a costly turnover in the first period, and Columbus turned the miscue into Atkinson’s fourth goal at 12:10. Atkinson poked the puck away from Beaudin near the blue line, got it back and beat Atkinson from the high slot for a 1-0 lead.

It was Atkinson’s third short-handed goal of the season and No. 15 for his career, snapping a tie with Rick Nash for the franchise record. He scored a short-handed goal on a penalty shot during Monday night’s 3-2 victory over Carolina.

MAKING MOVES

Elvis Merzlikins was activated from injured reserve and served as the backup for Korpisalo. Merzlikins, 26, had been sidelined by an upper-body injury since he got hurt during practice on Feb. 3.

Columbus also recalled defenseman Andrew Peeke from its taxi squad. Peeke, who turns 23 on March 17, played about 17 1/2 minutes in his first game of the season, replacing Dean Kukan in the lineup.

UP NEXT

The teams play again on Saturday night.