Kent Johnson scored 3:26 into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.
Sixty minutes of regulation passed without either side finding the back of the net. The teams matched each other shot for shot, each generating 29 shots on goal over the course of the evening. Columbus also recorded 23 hits and blocked 19 shots to keep the contest scoreless through three periods of play.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the extra session. Johnson snapped a wrist shot past New York goaltender Dylan Garand at even strength to secure the win. Zach Werenski collected his fifth assist of the season and Charlie Coyle earned his sixth assist on the deciding play, giving Johnson his fourth goal of the campaign.
Jet Greaves earned the shutout win for the Blue Jackets by stopping all 29 shots he faced. Garand turned aside 28 of 29 shots for the Rangers in the overtime loss. Neither power-play unit could break through, with Columbus finishing 0-for-3 on the man advantage and New York also going 0-for-3. Each team spent six minutes in the penalty box.
The victory brought the Blue Jackets to a 3-3-0 record on the season. The Rangers moved to 6-3-1 after the overtime loss, leaving them winless in two consecutive games with a 0-1-1 mark over that stretch.
Columbus plays next on Sunday when it visits the Minnesota Wild. New York hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
