NHL Blue Jackets rally for 2-2 tie with Phoenix
Columbus overcame an early 2-0 deficit to beat the Coyotes.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Once again, the Columbus Blue Jackets faced a first-period deficit. This time, they overcame it.
Two nights after being booed off the ice after falling behind by four goals early against Boston, the Blue Jackets forged a 2-2 tie with Phoenix on Sunday night on Andrew Cassels' goal with 41.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
"We desperately wanted to win and needed to win," Columbus coach and general manager Doug MacLean said. "But that's fine. We'll take that."
Fifth straight overtime
The Coyotes went to overtime for the fifth consecutive game (2-0-2-1).
"As a young team, we've got to find a way to step on a team when they're down," center Shane Doan said. "We need to find ways to get that extra point. It's disappointing."
Daymond Langkow had a goal and an assist, and Ladislav Nagy added a goal for Phoenix, as each team stretched its points streaks to five games.
Rick Nash scored his 10th goal to end a Columbus scoring drought early in the second period.
Marc Denis, who had 29 saves, had been pulled after the opening period of what ended up being a humiliating 4-0 loss to Boston 48 hours earlier.
"Marc held us in there," Cassels said.
With Denis off the ice for an extra skater, Geoff Sanderson pushed the puck away from a defender and through the zone. Cassels was crashing the net and was able to control the puck, sliding it past Phoenix goaltender Sean Burke.
"To get that bounce at the end and capitalize, hopefully there'll be some good fortune coming our way," Cassels said.
Burke made 25 saves.
"Not to take anything away from Columbus, but they have been struggling to score goals and we got them inside a minute in the neutral zone and they find a way to get one on us," Burke said. "It's not acceptable."
On the power play in the first period, Langkow took a shot from the right side that was stopped by Denis, but Nagy was there for the rebound to notch his 10th goal. Later in the period, Langkow picked up a goal of his own -- his fifth -- off assists by Doan and Savage.
Through the first period, the Blue Jackets trailed 2-0. Over the previous six periods, they had been outscored 11-0 and hadn't scored in 135:35.
Columbus finally broke through on the power play 3:38 into the second period. Cassels was stationed behind the net and slid a centering pass to Nash in the slot.
In the overtime, Phoenix had the only four shots on goal.
"You have to give Denis credit," Coyotes coach Bob Francis said. "He came out with the big saves when he needed them. He gave his team a chance to get a point."