Brent Seabrook scored on a 2-on-1 break at 3 minutes and 23 seconds of overtime and the Chicago Blackhawks extended their NHL record, season-opening point streak to 21 games with a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell scored 59 seconds apart late in the second period, and Viktor Stalberg also connected in regulation for Chicago (18-0-3), which won their eighth straight overall and have earned 39 out of a possible 42 points this season.
Ray Emery made 19 saves for the win.
Ryan Johansen scored with 7 minutes, 37 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 3 for Columbus, snapping his 37-game goal drought. Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov also had goals for injury-depleted Columbus (5-12-4), which have a league-low 14 points.
The Blackhawks posted their 10th consecutive win against the Blue Jackets, dating to Feb. 18, 2011. Chicago also have a point in their last 26 regular season games since a regulation loss on March 25 last year to Nashville.
Columbus have lost seven of eight, with all but one of the defeats by one goal.
BLUES 4, OILERS 2
AP, ST LOUIS, Missouri
Vladmir Sobotka put St Louis ahead early in the third period and added an assist for the Blues, who rallied from two goals down to beat Edmonton.
David Backes added an insurance tally with 5 minutes and 20 seconds to go, while Jaroslav Halak was strong throughout in net for the Blues, who trailed 2-0 after the first period.
They had been 1-5-1 in their previous seven at home while getting outscored 26-11. The Blues totaled just three goals the previous four games and were shut out twice.
Kevin Shattenkirk scored the tying goal late in the second to snap St Louis’ 0-for-14, power-play drought. Jaden Schwartz also scored for the Blues, who lost six home games in regulation last season, but are 5-5-1 there this year.
Taylor Hall and Ryan Whitney scored in a span of 23 seconds late in the first period for Edmonton, which played the third game of a nine-game trip. The Oilers, who ended a six-game losing streak against Dallas on Thursday, have lost six in a row in St Louis.
Halak made his fourth straight start with Brian Elliott on the bench for the eighth straight game. Halak made just 15 saves in the win after losing to Chicago on Thursday.
DUCKS 3, WILD 2
AP, ANAHEIM, California
Teemu Selanne scored his 669th NHL goal, Jonas Hiller made 31 saves and Anaheim held off Minnesota’s late surge for the Ducks’ eighth straight win at home.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf and Matt Beleskey also scored for the streaking Ducks, who have won eight of nine and 12 of 14 despite barely holding on to their 3-0 lead over Minnesota after two periods.
Anaheim (15-3-1) have the NHL’s second-best record behind Chicago and have not lost at the Honda Center since their home opener on Jan. 25. The Ducks are off to the best start in franchise history, surpassing their 13-2-4 start during their only Stanley Cup championship season in 2006 and 2007.
Kyle Brodziak and Devin Setoguchi scored third-period goals for Minnesota, which lost for just the second time in six games.
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