COLUMBUS, Ohio – The new addition to the Columbus Blue Jackets is proving to be a good fit.
Antoine Vermette took a pass from R.J. Umberger and scored 2:38 into overtime, giving the Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t get much better than a playoff race,” said Vermette, acquired this month in a trade-deadline deal with the Ottawa Senators. “I’m pretty happy.”
Vermette has points in five of six games he has played for Columbus.
Umberger, Derek Dorsett and Rick Nash also scored for Columbus. Steve Mason stopped 24 shots for Columbus.
Hurricanes 4, Devils 2: In Raleigh, N.C., Anton Babchuk scored twice and Eric Staal added a goal as Carolina beat the Martin Brodeur-less New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey played without Brodeur, who set the NHL record for career goalie wins by beating Chicago for No. 552 on Tuesday.
It was the first time Brodeur missed a start in 10 games since returning from an elbow injury on Feb. 26.
Flames 2, Stars 1: In Calgary, Alberta, Eric Nystrom scored the go-ahead goal with 8:14 left to lift Calgary over Dallas. It was Nystrom’s fourth goal of the season was his first in 14 games.
Jamie Lundmark also scored for the Flames, who increased their Northwest Division lead over Vancouver to five points.
Miikka Kiprusoff made 18 saves to earn his NHL-leading 41st win and his 200th career.
Ducks 4, Predators 3, OT: In Anaheim, Calif., Teemu Selanne scored Anaheim’s third power-play goal 34 seconds into overtime for his 1,200th NHL point, and rookies Andrew Ebbett and Bobby Ryan also connected with the man advantage.
With 72 points, the Ducks are three points behind eighth-place Edmonton in the Western Conference playoff race.