CHICAGO – Defenseman Fedor Tyutin scored the lone goal in the shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets earned their first playoff berth in franchise history Wednesday night, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
Columbus, which entered the NHL in 2000-01, was the only active team that had not qualified for the postseason. Rick Nash scored his 39th goal with 5:30 left in regulation to tie it at 3 and set up overtime. The Blue Jackets’ Antoine Vermette also scored and assisted on Jason Williams’ goal in regulation.
“To get that one point was huge, to come back after being down 2-0,” Nash said. “To get the win was even more important. We’re going to try to win these last two games to keep our position in the standings. I don’t know if it’s quite sunk in yet. We’re so used to playing out the season.”
Chicago needs one point to clinch fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 1: In Toronto, Ryan Miller made 32 saves to help Buffalo keep its slim playoff hopes alive, and Toronto’s Curtis Joseph was tagged with his 452nd loss, tying him with the late Gump Worsley for most in NHL history.