NHL

Columbus snaps Nashville streak in OT

By wire services
Published October 27, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Adam Foote scored on a short-handed rush 35 seconds into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 3-2 victory over Nashville on Wednesday to snap the Predators' season-opening, eight-game winning streak.

The quickest overtime goal in the NHL this season left Nashville two wins short of tying Toronto's league-best start in 1993.

Foote, the biggest free-agent signing in franchise history, helped Columbus end a slide in which the Blue Jackets lost their previous two games (both against Detroit on home ice) by a combined score of 12-2. The Blue Jackets came in with the NHL's fewest points (4) and fewest goals (17).

Trevor Letowski and Mark Hartigan also scored for Columbus. Martin Prusek, making his first start of the year, stopped 22 shots.

Paul Kariya and Adam Hall had goals for the Predators, and Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves.

With the game tied at 1-1, Hartigan gave Columbus a late lead with his first goal, scoring on a backhander through traffic with 3:27 left.

With 39.2 seconds remaining, however, recent Blue Jackets acquisition Jason Chimera was called for hooking Kimmo Timonen. The Predators pulled Vokoun, giving them a 6-on-4 skating advantage.

During a flurry, Hall scored the tying goal on a backhander from the slot with 19.5 seconds left.

Just 13 seconds into overtime, Columbus' David Vyborny was also whistled for hooking.

The Predators quickly put pressure on Prusek, but the puck kicked out to Foote who fired the shot, beating Vokoun inside the near post for his second goal.

The teams traded goals in the second period, with Letowski picking up his third. Letowski skated across the face of the goal, waiting until Vokoun sprawled to the ice before sliding the puck past him at 5:28.

Kariya's fourth goal came on a cross-ice pass from Steve Sullivan to the right dot, where Kariya snapped off a high shot past Prusek.

HURRICANES 4, BRUINS 3 (OT): Matt Cullen reached around Nick Boynton to knock in his second goal of the game for host Carolina around 90 seconds before the game would've gone to a shootout. Aaron Ward carried the puck in for Carolina, but his pass for Cullen was off the mark. Boynton appeared ready to let goaltender Andrew Raycroft corral it, but Cullen leaned over to poke in the winner one-handed before Raycroft could get there.

CAPITALS 3, SABRES 2: Defenseman Jamie Heward broke a tie on a two-man power play early in the third period for Washington in Rochester, N.Y. Olaf Kolzig finished with 15 saves for Washington, which used a suffocating defense to stifle the Sabres. Buffalo entered the game averaging a league-high 36 shots on goal.

SHARKS 5, STARS 4 (OT): Patrick Marleau's breakaway goal 3:20 into overtime snapped visiting San Jose's four-game losing streak. Dallas took a 4-3 lead into the final minute of regulation but Marco Sturm's power-play rebound with 19.9 seconds left tied it. The Stars thought they'd scored the winner 20 seconds into overtime, but the goal was disallowed because it came after an official's whistle.

PANTHERS RELOCATE: With most of South Florida still without electricity, the Panthers will spend the weekend in Orlando since there is no place with power for them to practice. The Panthers play the host Flyers tonight and fly home after the game.

The team has Friday off, but will bus to Orlando where they will stay until departing for a four-city road trip on Sunday afternoon. The team will practice at the Ice Factory in Kissimmee on Saturday and Sunday.

COACHES FINED: Toronto coach Pat Quinn and Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle were fined by the NHL for recent comments about the game and officiating. The league does not disclose the amount of fines. The money goes to the NHL Foundation.

RED WINGS: Steve Yzerman will make his first appearance at Joe Louis Arena tonight when Detroit hosts the Blackhawks. Yzerman missed the season opener Oct. 5 because of a groin injury, came back Oct. 13 at Los Angeles, but pulled his groin Oct. 15 at Phoenix.

[Last modified October 27, 2005, 01:29:09]