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Avs top Blue Jackets in OT

Apr 2, 2014 - 2:35 AM Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - When in doubt, send the puck in front.

The old adage paid off for the Avalanche twice in the third period and again in overtime as Gabriel Landeskog's second goal of the game sent Colorado to a 3-2 comeback win over the playoff-hopeful Columbus Blue Jackets.

Landeskog recorded the tying goal with 4:57 remaining in regulation and capitalized on Colorado's only power play of the game when his pass intended for Nathan MacKinnon went off Columbus defenseman Nick Johnson and into the back of the net with 33 seconds showing.

Brad Malone was credited with Colorado's other goal, while Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for the Avs, who stand three points ahead of the Blackhawks for fourth place in the Western Conference with seven to play -- one more than Chicago.

Columbus, which still tenuously holds the second of two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference, picked up a much-needed point despite the collapse.

"We're happy to at least get a point. Every point counts," an otherwise disappointed Johnson said.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves while Blake Comeau and Cam Atkinson scored for the Blue Jackets, who were coming off an overtime win over Carolina.

Nate Guenin made a pair of miscues in the middle stanza that directly led the both of Columbus' goals, the first coming with 9:08 remaining in the period.

The 31-year-old defenseman first turned it over behind his own net where Brandon Dubinsky dished out front for Atkinson, who snapped in his 20th goal of the season from between the circles.

Five minutes later, Guenin fanned on a clearing pass at the blueline, leaving no one behind him as Nick Foligno and Comeau cashed in on a 2-on-Varlamov with the former feeding the latter for an easy tap-in at the 15:59 mark.

"[Turnovers] are part of the game, but we bounced back and showed a lot of character," Avs head coach Patrick Roy said. "We were resilient. We came back in the third, working even harder."

A fluke goal halved Colorado's deficit when Malone, from behind the net in the left corner, centered a pass that caromed off an oblivious Foligno and past an equally unaware Bobrovsky.

The goal came with 10:14 remaining in regulation, and after Colorado killed off a penalty minutes later, MacKinnon's centering feed went off Landeskog in front to even things.

Game Notes

Colorado has won four in a row ... The Avs, who have already clinched a playoff berth, were playing their first game since Matt Duchene suffered a knee injury that will keep the star center sidelined at least the rest of the regular season ... Columbus has lost six of its past eight at home versus Colorado.