Saturday, January 28, 2006
The Minnesota defenseman deflected a Sergei Fedorov shot into his own goal.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Sergei Fedorov was rewarded for just throwing the puck toward the net.
Minnesota defenseman Nick Schultz deflected a centering pass from Fedorov into his own net with 6:33 remaining Friday night to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory and end the Wild's franchise-best, five-game winning streak.
"I knew the guy was coming back door and I was there to make the play and just was unlucky," Schultz said.
Fedorov was credited with the goal that capped Columbus' three-goal rally in the third period.
"I've scored two or three goals in my career off a skate, but not a game-winner like that," Fedorov said.
Other Columbus goals
Ron Hainsey, Bryan Berard and Rick Nash also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won seven of 10 and six straight at home against the Wild.
Dwayne Roloson made 21 saves in place of recent starter Manny Fernandez, who had been in net for the Wild's winning streak.
Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire was short on words after the disappointing loss.
"We have to wake up tomorrow and start over again," he said.
Todd White had two goals and an assist, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard had a goal and an assist for the Wild, known for their stingy defense, which collapsed late.
Trailing 3-1 entering the final period, Columbus started its comeback with a goal during a 5-on-3 power play -- its only man-advantage score in nine chances against the NHL's top penalty-killing team.
"I think they ran out of gas in the third period," Blue Jackets coach Gerard Gallant said. "They played back-to-back nights and we played really hard in the third period. We were really disappointed with our first two periods."
Berard fired a one-timed shot from the high slot past Roloson to make it 3-2 at 2:24.
Nash scores 13th goal
Shortly after another Wild penalty expired, the Blue Jackets tied it when Adam Foote's point shot was redirected by Nash for his 13th goal of the season and first point in five games.
"I just went to the net and saw the puck coming and tried to make it change directions," Nash said. "Lucky enough, it worked out. You go to the net, and good things are going to pay off."
That set up Schultz's misfortune at 13:27.
"In that particular situation I already knew I had to bring the puck to the net," Fedorov said of the play, leading to his attempted pass to Trevor Letowski. "I guess good things happen once in a while."
After Hainsey gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead, Minnesota responded with three goals in the second period.
White won the puck deep in the right corner and centered a pass that hit off Bouchard's left skate and past goaltender Pascal Leclaire for a power-play goal at 8:50 that made it 1-1. White added his two goals within 2:38 of the second period.
Brian Rolston lobbed a shot on goal that White redirected from the high slot at 10:48.
Power-play goal
White then jammed home a loose puck in the crease that defenseman Duvie Westcott failed to clear away at 13:26 for another power-play goal and his 15th tally of the season.
"It's a tough way to lose, no doubt," Lemaire said.
Hainsey, claimed off waivers earlier in the season, scored his first for the Blue Jackets with a slap shot from the left point through traffic.
"That's what good teams are made of," Nash said. "We obviously didn't play very well the first two periods, we just outworked them in the third."
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