Korpisalo stops 37 shots, Blue Jackets win in shootout

By foxsports
Published

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Alex Wennberg scored the only goal in a shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Thursday night.

Scott Hartnell had a power-play goal in the third period for the Blue Jackets (20-28-5), who are last in the NHL and were coming off a 5-1 loss in Edmonton on Tuesday.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 37 shots for Columbus.

Linden Vey scored in the first period for Vancouver (20-19-12), which has lost three straight. Ryan Miller made 27 saves.

Henrik Sedin returned to his spot on Vancouver's top line after missing four games with a shoulder injury.

The game also marked the return to Vancouver for Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, fired by the Canucks after missing the playoffs in his only season (2013-14) with the team. Tortorella joined the Blue Jackets in late October after Columbus started this season 0-7.

Vancouver won its previous game against Tortorella, a 5-3 win in Columbus on Nov. 10.

The Canucks opened the scoring at 10:55 on the man advantage with Cam Atkinson off for hooking. Bo Horvat sent a slick cross-ice pass to Vey, who one-timed it past Korpisalo for his second of the season. It was Vancouver's second shot of the game.

Korpisalo made some nice saves in the second, including kicking out a pad to close the door on Alex Edler's wraparound attempt midway through the period.

Miller turned aside a point-blank shot from center William Karlsson in the slot early in the third.

Columbus finally broke through midway through the period with Canucks center Jared McCann off for hooking. Hartnell tied the game at 9:06 when he fired the puck in from the slot for his 18th of the season.

Vancouver went on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime with Karlsson off for interference. However, the Canucks couldn't capitalize despite outshooting Columbus 4-1 in the extra session.

NOTES: Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who took part in the morning skate, was held out of the lineup. Hamhuis hasn't played in nearly two months since taking a puck in the face against the Rangers. He's expected to play Saturday when Vancouver hosts Calgary.