COLUMBUS, Ohio – Minnesota defenseman Nick Schultz deflected the puck into his own net with 6:33 remaining Friday night to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory and end the Wild’s franchise-best, five-game winning streak.
Sergei Fedorov was credited with the goal on Schultz’s miscue that capped Columbus’ three-goal rally in the third period.
Ron Hainsey, Bryan Berard and Rick Nash also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won seven of 10 and six straight at home against the Wild.
Dwayne Roloson made 21 saves in place of regular starter Manny Fernandez, who had been in net for the Wild’s winning streak. Todd White had two goals and an assist, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard had a goal and an assist.
Trailing 3-1 entering the final period, Columbus started its comeback with a goal during a 5-on-3 power play – its only man-advantage score in nine chances against the NHL’s top penalty-killing team.
Berard fired a one-timed shot from the high slot past Roloson to make it 3-2 at 2:24.
Shortly after another Wild penalty expired, the Blue Jackets tied it when Adam Foote’s point shot was redirected by Nash for his 13th goal of the season and first point in five games.
That set up Schultz’s misfortune.
Fedorov centered a pass from the left wing, and Schultz redirected it into his own net at 13:27 when he tried to beat Trevor Letowski to the puck.
After Hainsey gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead, Minnesota responded with three goals in the second period.
White won the puck deep in the right corner and centered a pass that hit off Bouchard’s left skate and past goaltender Pascal Leclaire for a power-play goal at 8:50 that made it 1-1. White added his two goals within 2:38 of the second period.
Brian Rolston lobbed a shot on goal that White redirected from the high slot at 10:48.
White then jammed home a loose puck in the crease that defenseman Duvie Westcott failed to clear away at 13:26 for another power-play goal and his 15th tally of the season.
Hainsey, claimed off waivers earlier in the season, scored his first for the Blue Jackets with a slap shot from the left point through traffic.
Notes: The Blue Jackets’ longest winning streak is four games. They entered the NHL with Minnesota in 2000. … Berard’s 12th goal set Columbus’ franchise record for most goals in a season by a defenseman. … Rolston had two assists to extend his point streak to six games. Marian Gaborik, the Wild’s third-leading scorer, had his five-game point run end. … Minnesota had won four of five on the road.
AP-ES-01-27-06 2227EST
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