CHICAGO – The Chicago Blackhawks extended their NHL-record, season-opening point streak to 21 games.
It wasn’t easy at home against the team with the fewest points in the league.
Brent Seabrook finished off a 2-on-1 rush at 3:23 of overtime to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the banged-up Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blackhawks (18-0-3) have won eight straight overall and haven’t been beaten in regulation time in 27 games, dating to a loss on March 25, 2012, to Nashville.
Chicago put this one in the win column when Jonathan Toews carried the puck down left wing and dished a cross-ice pass to Seabrook, who fired in a shot from the right circle before goalie Steve Mason could slide across the crease.
“It was a great pass by Tazer,” Seabrook said. “I just tried to get up in the play. Tazer had some speed going up, and I tried to help out.”
The Blue Jackets (5-12-4) are saddled with injuries to key players, but they skated toe-to-toe with Chicago for much of the game — including leading twice.
“They come out and play 60 minutes hard,” Seabrook said. “There are no easy games, and you can never take a night off.”
Columbus’ Ryan Johansen scored with 7:37 left in regulation to tie it 3-3, snapping his 37-game goal drought.
Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell scored 59 seconds apart late in the second period, and Viktor Stalberg also connected in regulation for Chicago, which has earned 39 out of a possible 42 points this season.
Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov also had goals for Columbus, which has a league-low 14 points.
“They had us on our heels a couple times,” Bickell said. “They had a late goal, but it was good to see Seebs get on the rush and pop the OT winner.
“We were down early in this game. It shows the character in this room to come back. It’s been fun. We’re just having a blast right now.”
Blues 4, Oilers 2
In St. Louis, Vladmir Sobotka put the Blues ahead early in the third period and added an assist for St. Louis, which rallied from two goals down to beat Edmonton.
David Backes added an insurance tally with 5:20 to go, and Jaroslav Halak was strong throughout in net for the Blues, who trailed 2-0 after the first period.
Ducks 3, Wild 2
In Anaheim, Teemu Selanne scored his 669th NHL goal, Jonas Hiller made 31 saves, and the Ducks held off Minnesota’s late surge for Anaheim’s eighth straight win at home.
Click to enlarge