Blue Jackets 4 - 3 Sharks
Final
  for this game

Blue Jackets strike late to beat Sharks

Apr 22, 2013 - 6:56 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Johansen's goal late in regulation lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets over San Jose, 4-3, at HP Pavilion.

Mark Letestu tallied twice and Vinny Prospal once for the Blue Jackets, who pulled into a tie for seventh place in the Western Conference alongside Minnesota. The Wild lost to Calgary earlier on Sunday.

"If we are forechecking hard and we're after pucks and using our speed and our size that's playing to our strengths," Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards said.

Sergei Bobrovsky remained strong in net, stopping 32 pucks.

Andrew Desjardins and Joe Pavelski scored to erase a two-goal, third-period deficit for the Sharks, whose three-game win streak came to an end.

Martin Havlat scored, while Antti Niemi made only 18 saves for San Jose, which could have locked up a playoff berth with at least one point.

"It's our game that will get us there or won't get us there. Forget about the clinch part," San Jose head coach Todd McLellan said.

Desjardins pulled San Jose within 3-2 at 6:34 of the third period, by chasing down a lead pass, snaking his way from the right circle into the slot by a sliding Blue Jackets defender and shooting past a fooled Bobrovsky.

Pavelski then tied the game on the power play when he one-timed a Gomez feed home inside the right post with 5:03 on the clock.

Yet Columbus emerged victorious, gaining the winner at 18:23. R.J. Umberger's forechecking pressure managed to tip the puck away from Sharks defenseman Justin Braun near the blue line, and Johansen did the rest, beating Niemi from between the circles for a 4-3 game.

Letestu scored at 16:53 of the first period, redirecting a centering feed by Jack Johnson from the slot.

Prospal put the visitors up by two just shy of 4 1/2 minutes played in the second when he cruised in alone and bested Niemi.

Havlat's marker with 7:14 gone put the hosts on the board, but Letestu's second of the game on the advantage gave Columbus a 3-1 edge at 12:42.

Game Notes

Letestu added an assists for a career-best three-point effort ... Columbus swept the season series and has won four in a row over San Jose, while winning in the Bay Area for just the third time since entering the league in 2000 ... Matt Irwin picked up two assists for the Sharks.






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