Blue Jackets 3 - 4 Blackhawks
Final - OT
  for this game

Blackhawks keep streak alive, top Blue Jackets in OT

Mar 2, 2013 - 6:30 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Brent Seabrook scored with 1:37 remaining in overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks extended their amazing streak with a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at United Center.

On the winning goal, Chicago captain Jonathan Toews retrieved a puck he chipped past Blue Jackets defenseman Adrian Aucoin and fed Seabrook a cross- ice pass that he fired into an open net.

The Blackhawks stretched their NHL record season-opening points streak to 21 games (18-0-3). They have earned at least one point 27 consecutive games overall, the third-longest such run in league history.

The 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens had a 28-game point streak and the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers own the NHL record at 35 games.

However, those clubs didn't lose any games during their runs.

Chicago's Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead with goals 59 seconds apart in the second period.

Sharp whipped a backhander from a bad angle through a leaky Steve Mason with 2:40 remaining, and Bickell created a turnover in his own zone before scoring on the ensuing rush with 1:41 to play.

Ryan Johansen, though, netted the equalizer for the Blue Jackets at the 12:23 mark of the third period. R.J. Umberger managed to keep the puck in at the blue line and Nick Foligno dished to Johansen, who elevated a backhander over Ray Emery's pad.

Emery made 19 saves, while Mason stopped 31 shots in Columbus' 10th straight loss to Chicago.

"In three games against these guys (this season), we're coming up one goal short," Mason said. "We're obviously doing some pretty good things to be able to stick with these guys."

Chicago forward Viktor Stalberg acknowledged that the series this season has been far from one-sided.

"It's more of a battle than it was last year," he said. "I think we had a pretty easy time walking over them, but this year they're playing a lot harder, they're better within their system."

Blue Jackets forward Vinny Prospal opened the scoring 31 seconds into the game when he buried a rebound, but Stalberg tied things up at 16:09 of the first period. His tally came one second after Johansen finished serving a bench minor for too many men on the ice.

A returning Artem Anisimov put the visitors back in front in the middle stanza. From along the boards near the right point, Anisimov, back in the lineup after missing three games because of a head injury, let go a shot that beat Emery to the short side at 12:42.

Game Notes

Chicago forward Marian Hossa played in his 999th NHL game ... Prospal scored his 250th career goal.






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