Blue Jackets win ninth straight game

VANCOUVER --Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella continued to insist he doesn't care about becoming the first American-born coach to win 500 games, but the fact it mattered so much to his players meant something.
Seth Jones scored 46 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Sunday. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno presented the game puck to Tortorella afterwards.

"That stuff is fun, yeah," Tortorella said. "Those things tighten up a group. … I'll readily admit as I have gone through a little bit of a grind here the last few years and trying to get consistent with a team, I am trying to enjoy it more. I am on the back nine, that's just the way it is. I know it's not going to be forever, so I do want to try to enjoy it."
WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Canucks highlights
Tortorella, 58, said it didn't mean more coming against the Canucks, who fired him in 2014, but it meant something to his players.
"[Tortorella] says it doesn't mean (anything), but it's a lot of wins," Foligno said. "He's gone through a roller-coaster of a career. Really gratifying for all the guys to see him get that."
Columbus (20-5-4), which matched a franchise record with its ninth straight win, overcame two blown leads in the third period. The Canucks rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 to force overtime before Jones one-touched a 2-on-1 rush pass from Cam Atkinson under Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller.
"That's a pretty special night for him, especially to do it back here in Vancouver," Jones said.
Brandon Saad scored his second goal with 4:39 left in the third to give the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead. But Jannik Hansen tied it again with 1:09 left and Miller pulled for an extra attacker, beating Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky over the glove with a long shot off the rush.
Atkinson also scored and Bobrovksy made 14 saves for his NHL-leading 19th win. The Blue Jackets matched their record for consecutive wins, set from March 18-April 4, 2015. Columbus has points in 11 straight games (10-0-1) and hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 23.
"It showed a lot of character," Saad said. "Any time you go through adversity and battle back and stick with it and keep scoring and eventually win, it's a big character win."
Brandon Sutter scored on a power play 2:51 into the third period and Daniel Sedin tied the game 2-2 with a long slap shot of the rush that deflected in off the skate of Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson at 7:42.
Miller made 21 saves for the Canucks (13-16-3), who have one win in their past five games.
"We are still frustrated," Miller said. "It was right there for us."

Goal of the game

With Luca Sbisa off for slashing, Saad made it 2-0 at 13:18 of the second period, tapping in a no-look backhand pass from Scott Hartnell through the crease from the right side of the net.

Save of the game

Miller threw out his right pad to rob William Karlsson from the top of the crease after a pretty centering pass from Matt Calvert below the goal line on the other side.

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Unsung performance of the game

Columbus defenseman David Savard, who played a game-high 24:42, blocked a great power-play chance for Loui Eriksson from the left faceoff circle 9:30 into the second period. Saad scored less than four minutes later.

Highlight of the game

Canucks captain Henrik Sedin had an open net after a nice pass from Daniel Sedin on a 2-on-1 rush one minute into the game but shot back through the crease, under Bobrovsky and wide of the net on the other side.

They said it

"I have been so privileged to have the opportunity to coach as many games as I have in the League and to get this opportunity with this club when there are so many other people dying to get in. That's what I'm so grateful for; not numbers, just having the opportunity." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella
"Obviously you want to come out with two points, but you get that chance in overtime, you hit the crossbar. If it goes in, we're having a different conversation. It's tight." -- Canucks center Brandon Sutter

Need to know

The Canucks announced before the game that defenseman Erik Gudbranson, who missed his second straight game, will have surgery to repair ligament damage in his wrist and is out indefinitely. Gudbranson, 24, has a goal and six points in 30 games this season after being acquired from the Florida Panthers for forward Jared McCann on May 25. … The Blue Jackets haven't lost in regulation on the road since Nov. 10 at the Boston Bruins, a span of nine games.

What's next

Canucks:Host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, TSN3, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets:Host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-W, NHL.TV)