Sports

NHL

Columbus tops Devils to stay unbeaten in OT

Associated Press
Published December 12, 2005

---

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sergei Fedorov still has some magic in his hockey stick.

Bryan Berard scored off a pass from Fedorov with 13.6 seconds left in overtime, giving the Blue Jackets a 3-2 win over the Devils on Sunday.

The Blue Jackets hadn't gotten a shot in the extra period before Berard slipped around Devils defenseman Paul Martin in the right circle and beat Martin Brodeur for his sixth goal of the season.

"Sergei is one of those great offensive players, and he gave me a great pass," Berard said.

Fedorov, the former NHL MVP who helped Detroit win three Stanley Cups, delivered his first big moment since joining Columbus on Nov. 15.

"I saw somebody skating about a hundred miles an hour on my right. It was kind of a no-brainer that I had to dish it off. Sure enough, Bryan cut the corner and he made a great play one on one and put the puck in the net. I don't know how he did it," Fedorov said.

Nikolai Zherdev scored twice in regulation for Columbus, giving him four goals in three games after opening the season with four in 25 contests. His eight goals lead the NHL's lowest-scoring club.

Columbus is the only team not to have lost this season in overtime or a shootout. The Blue Jackets, who have earned only four wins in regulation, are 2-0 in games ended in overtime and 3-for-3 in shootouts.

"I thought this was our best all-around game of the year," said Columbus coach Gerard Gallant, whose team has won 4 of 6 overall.

New Jersey lost its fourth straight, all to Western Conference teams. Detroit, Calgary and Colorado defeated the Devils before the Blue Jackets.

It was the seventh consecutive game that New Jersey failed to score more than three goals. New Jersey is 2-for-44 on the power play over that span, including0-for-7 against Columbus.

"This is definitely a team that we should have beat and we didn't," Brodeur said. "Our power play has been tough for us the last few games and again today, which is another reason why we couldn't get more than one point."

Marc Denis stopped both of New Jersey's shots in overtime and finished with 28 saves, raising his record to 4-11. Brodeur dropped to 11-9-2.

Except for Zherdev's goals, Brodeur was spectacular in regulation. He made 36 saves, including 12 in the third period when Columbus missed numerous chances to take the lead.

BLACKHAWKS 5, THRASHERS 4 (SO): Michael Holmqvist beat Atlanta goaltender Michael Garnett for the visiting Blackhawks' third and deciding score in the five-round shootout. Atlanta scored four unanswered goals to take a one-goal lead with 11:33 remaining, but Duncan Keith forced overtime less than three minutes later with a backhander from the slot.

COYOTES 2, BRUINS 1 (OT): Mike Johnson scored visiting Phoenix's only goal in regulation - his fifth in three games - and Ladislav Nagy got the winner 30 seconds into overtime.

SABRES 3, WILD 2: Mike Grier scored the winner with 3:32 remaining when he tipped Chris Drury's shot to give visiting Buffalo goalie Martin Biron his 10th straight win when starting. He hasn't lost since Nov. 12 in Ottawa.

PENGUINS: Pittsburgh owner-captain Mario Lemieux said he is doubtful the team will remain in Pittsburgh after its Mellon Arena lease expires in 2007, citing a lack of progress on a new arena.

[Last modified December 12, 2005, 01:11:08]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]