Kent Johnson lifts Blue Jackets past Oilers in OT – The Rink Live
Kent Johnson scored with 2:31 left in overtime and visiting Columbus Blue Jackets ended the Edmonton Oilers’ six-game winning streak with a 3-2 win Wednesday night.
Without a goal in his last 15 contests, Johnson ran with the puck to find an opportunity and then drove it past Edmonton’s goalie Stuart Skinner (24 saves), who appeared to be being monitored by teammate Darnell Nurse, to the winner. Meanwhile, Joonas Korpisalo was strong at the net, making 34 saves to help Columbus earn just their fourth away win of the season.
Zach Hyman scored his 25th goal and Connor McDavid recorded his 49th assist in 49 games for the Oilers, who have still scored at least a point in nine of their last 10.
Trailing 2-1, the Blue Jackets saved a few chances on Skinner in the third period. They were finally rewarded when rookie Kirill Marchenko worked his way to slot the puck in 8:34 by the book for his 11th goal in 25 NHL competitions.
While Edmonton pressed in the first half of the opening period, it was Columbus who came onto the board first. The Blue Jackets’ Adam Boqvist sent a wrister off the point, and Boone Jenner was ahead of Skinner to deflect the puck at 7:35 of the first period. Meanwhile, Korpisalo was particularly strong at stopping all 11 Edmonton chances in that period.
However, the Oilers eventually leveled the contest at 9:43, remaining in the second period. After winning a puck battle on the neutral zone rinks, the Oilers got to Derek Ryan near the Columbus blue line. Ryan came in and transformed over Korpisalo’s gauntlet.
The Oilers grabbed their first lead of the night with 3:44 on the second and on the power play. Shortly after Korpisalo Leon saved Draisaitl from point-blank range with a shiny glide, McDavid threw the puck into the net where Hyman was in the perfect place to steer it home.
Columbus’ Gustav Nyquist played his 700th NHL game on Wednesday, but was eliminated after suffering a first-season upper-body injury.
– Field level media
