Werenski equalizer sets up Blue Jackets shootout win over Stars

Zach Werenski scored with 3:14 remaining in regulation to give Columbus another chance, and the Blue Jackets converted it into a 2-1 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Valeri Nichushkin and Kent Johnson scored in the deciding sequence, completing a comeback that brought Columbus its second consecutive win.

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The game remained scoreless through two periods as Cam Talbot and Casey DeSmith kept both attacks in check. Dallas came close to taking the lead immediately before the second intermission, but the puck crossed the goal line too late to count, according to the Dispatch. Talbot also denied Jason Robertson on a second-period breakaway, using his right pad to preserve the tie.

Mikko Rantanen finally put Dallas ahead at 6:27 of the third period. A report carried by Xtra Sports 1300 described how Ivan Provorov's attempted clearance struck the net and reached Wyatt Johnston in the slot. Talbot stopped Johnston's effort, but Rantanen converted the rebound for his ninth goal of the season. Dallas now had a lead to protect after more than 46 minutes without a goal.

Werenski supplied the response with his first goal of the campaign, finishing on the backhand at 16:46. Kent Johnson and Matthew Knies received assists, according to the Ball Exclusives recap published by Yardbarker. Neither side scored in overtime, leaving the outcome to the shootout. Nichushkin and Johnson then delivered the successful attempts that separated the teams after their closely contested regulation and extra period.

Talbot finished with 27 saves from 28 shots, while DeSmith stopped 29 of 30. Yardbarker's match report recorded a 30-28 shots advantage for Columbus. Neither power play produced a goal: Dallas failed to convert its one opportunity and Columbus went scoreless on two. The attendance was 15,020, with the home crowd seeing its team recover from a late one-goal deficit.

Columbus improved to 7-7-0, while Dallas moved to 9-5-2. The result also reversed the outcome of their previous meeting, a 3-1 Stars victory in Dallas the preceding Saturday. Xtra Sports 1300 reported that Columbus remained unbeaten in games extending beyond regulation this season, improving to 5-0 in those contests.