Blue Jackets 4 - 3 Hurricanes
Final
  for this game

Late strikes get Blue Jackets past Hurricanes

Dec 24, 2013 - 5:17 AM Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Johansen and Jack Skille scored 1:28 apart late in the third period to boost the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Johansen tied the game with 4:02 left and Skille put the Blue Jackets in front with a rising shot from the right circle past Justin Peters.

"We're that type of team that we don't give up," Skille said. "We have a lot of character in the room and everyone wants to win and finish games strong. That was the key to the third period."

Mike McKenna stood tall with 30 saves, including a stop on Jeff Skinner from in close in the final 30 seconds after the Hurricanes pulled Peters for the extra attacker.

Corey Tropp and Artem Anisimov also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won back-to-back contests since a three-game skid.

Skinner scored twice and Alexander Semin contributed a goal and an assist for Carolina, which has lost three in a row and six of seven. The Hurricanes have lost six straight against Columbus and haven't beaten the Blue Jackets since Dec. 15, 2005.

"It's a tough way to lose," Skinner said. "We generated a lot of opportunities, but just couldn't hold onto the lead."

Peters, who turned aside a season-high 47 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss at Tampa Bay Saturday, made 21 saves Monday.

Anisimov scored midway through the first period off a centering pass from Cam Atkinson.

Skinner's power-play tally with 1:11 left in the first, on a shot through traffic, evened the score.

Tropp's goal, a rebound off his shoulder from in front, gave Columbus a 2-1 lead with 4:21 left in the second.

Skinner scored on the power play only 46 seconds later on a shot from the inside edge of the right circle after a pass from Alexander Semin.

The 'Canes went ahead 3-2 at 9:06 of the third on Semin's fourth of the season, a one-timer from nearly the same spot as Skinner's second goal.

Johansen then tied it when the Blue Jackets capitalized on a turnover by Jiri Tlusty. Nick Foligno fed the disc from above the left circle to a streaking Johansen, who scored from the low right circle.

Game Notes

Skinner has 10 goals in his last 11 games ... Mark Letestu had two assists for Columbus ... The Blue Jackets were 0-for-5 on the power play, while Carolina was 2-for-6.






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