The Associated Press
CHICAGO – Jason Chimera scored at 2:31 of overtime to give Columbus a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night that snapped the Blue Jackets’ four-game losing streak.
Chimera beat Nikolai Khabibulin between the legs with a shot from the right circle to complete a 2-on-1 break.
Sergei Fedorov, Rostislav Klesla, Joe Motzko and Fredrik Modin scored in regulation for the Blue Jackets, who trailed 3-1 in the second period but rallied to take a 4-3 lead late in regulation.
Motzko’s goal was his first in the NHL.
Bryan Smolinski had two goals for Chicago. His second, with 1:33 left in regulation, forced overtime. Patrick Sharp and Jim Vandermeer also scored in regulation for Chicago, which lost its seventh straight (0-6-1).
Chicago blew a 3-1 lead for the second straight game. Columbus tied it late in the second period when Klesla and Motzko scored 1:20 apart.
The Blackhawks failed on their three power-play chances and have converted only 3 of the past 47 advantages.
Khabibulin made 13 saves in his 19th consecutive start.
Fredrik Norrena started in goal for Columbus, but was pulled for the second straight game after allowing three goals on 15 shots. Ty Conklin replaced him at 9:12 of the second period and permitted one goal on 13 shots.
Conklin relieved Norrena at the start of the second in the Blue Jackets’ 4-1 loss to Nashville on Saturday after Norrena gave up three goals on nine shots.
Fedorov, who had missed three games with an elbow injury, opened the scoring 4:25 in.
Sharp tied it 23 seconds later, jamming in a rebound of his shot from the left circle between Norrena’s pads.
Smolinski gave Chicago a 2-1 lead at 4:37 of the second. Vandermeer’s first goal of the season made it 3-1 at 9:12.
Klesla beat Khabibulin high on the glove side with a 55-foot shot with 4:58 left in the second – four seconds after a Chicago penalty expired – to cut it to 3-2
Motzko, playing his 10th NHL game, fooled Khabibulin with a wrist shot to tie it 1:20 later.
Modin scored with 5:56 left in regulation to give Columbus a 4-3 lead, but Smolinski’s second goal tied it again.
