COLUMBUS Late goal helps Blue Jackets avoid late loss

Pavol Demitra scored on St. Louis' first shot after just 16 seconds -- the fastest goal ever scored against Columbus.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Tired of losing games in the final minute, the Columbus Blue Jackets did something about it.
David Vyborny scored while falling to the ice with 47.7 seconds remaining as the Blue Jackets beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 Wednesday night.
The Blue Jackets have lost three games in the final 35 seconds and another in overtime when they had a lead with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
"It's our turn to win one of those close ones and steal the game late," Columbus coach Dave King said.
Ray Whitney set up the goal, stealing a pass from Martin Rucinsky near the blue line. Whitney circled back into the offensive zone and dropped a backhanded pass to Vyborny in the slot. Vyborny, shadowed by Rucinsky, was able to get off a one-timer that beat goaltender Tom Barrasso high on the glove side.
"It's easy to point the finger at one turnover," said St. Louis defenseman Al MacInnis, who tied the game with 6:40 remaining.
"But at the same time we need a little bit more from everybody."
Not so gracious
Coach Joel Quenneville wasn't so gracious.
"It was a terrible giveaway and a terrible goal," he said. "Who knows what happens in OT. But you can't make that play at that stage of the game."
King called a timeout with a minute remaining and told the Blue Jackets -- who were winless in their last four (0-2-1-1) -- to not be satisfied with a tie.
"It feels good," Whitney said. "If we could do it like four more times to equal up how many times we've given one up, we'll feel a lot better."
Vyborny's goal was his second of the season and first in a month.
"It's a big win for us. It's good for me, too -- it's good for my confidence," Vyborny said. "We need to win games in the last minute because we've lost so many."
Marc Denis stopped 27 shots after Pavol Demitra scored on the Blues' first shot just 16 seconds -- the fastest goal ever scored against Columbus.
The Blues, ending a four-game road trip, have lost three of four and four of six.
Mike Sillinger's fourth came off Rick Nash's nifty pass and Grant Marshall redirected Whitney's slap shot to give Columbus a 2-1 lead.