Blue Jackets win 10th game in row

COLUMBUS -- Columbus Blue Jackets backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney puts in extra work at practice to stay sharp.
He's also doing extra in games, going beyond regulation for the fourth time in as many starts this season.
Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena, he followed a 44-save performance by stopping two of three attempts in the shootout to help Columbus win its 10th straight game, 3-2 to set the Blue Jackets' record.

WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Kings highlights
"It's pretty special," forward Boone Jenner said. "I was just thinking, I don't know if it feels like 10. We've just been going on game by game."
McElhinney has shootout wins in his past two starts after losing his first two in overtime.
"Maybe it's one of those things that I'm trying to grab as many minutes as I can," he said. "It feels good, especially getting those extra points. It's tough to win in this league."

Cam Atkinson scored twice and Brandon Dubinsky had two assists for Columbus (21-5-4), which extended its point streak to 12 games (11-0-1).
Jeff Carter had two goals Peter Budaj made 25 saves for the Kings (16-13-3), who are 2-2-1 on a nine-game trip.
Atkinson and Sam Gagner scored in the shootout for Columbus. Carter scored but McElhinney stopped Marian Gaborik in the bottom of the third round for the victory that broke the consecutive win mark set from March 18-April 4, 2015.
In overtime, the Kings could not score on 31 seconds of a carryover power play and Columbus forward Brandon Saad hit the crossbar on a breakaway.
"We put up 46 shots," Carter said. "We've got to put the puck in the net. We had a lot of good chances, myself included."
Atkinson gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at 7:35 of the second period.
Carter tied the score at 1-1 with a power-play goal at 16:12 when a pass through the crease by Alec Martinez went off his skate.
Atkinson put Columbus ahead 2-1 at 4:05 of the third with his team-high 14th goal, scoring on a shot from above the right circle.
Carter tied it 2-2 at 10:16 with an unassisted goal after an unforced turnover by Gagner left him alone for a shot in front for his 16th goal.

Goal of the game

Carter's quick, pinpoint shot after Gagner gifted him the puck.

Save of the game

McElhinney faced a two-man rush in Carter and Tanner Pearson with less than a minute to play in overtime and stopped Carter.

Unsung performance of the game

Dubinsky helped kill the Kings' second power play late in the third and into overtime, was a plus-2 and won 18 of 26 faceoffs.

Highlight of the game

Atkinson's first goal was the result of gritty work behind the net by Jenner, who passed to the left circle to Dubinsky. He fed Atkinson at the crease.

They said it

"Every time we play them it's a tough game. We know what we're getting into. They're a really skilled, hard-working team. They play a full 200-foot game." -- Kings forward Jeff Carter on the Blue Jackets
"Did we deserve to win? Not so sure, probably not, but [Curtis McElhinney] gave us a chance and that's part of getting these points in the bank before the Christmas break." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella
"We played a really strong game. We came back twice against a team that's only lost five games, I believe, all season." -- Kings coach Darryl Sutter

Need to know

A video tribute during a first-period break recognized Tortorella's 500th NHL victory, which came Sunday at the Vancouver Canucks. … Drew Doughty's assist on Carter's first goal was his 250th, tying Mark Hardy for second all-time among Kings defensemen. … Atkinson has six goals and 12 points in a seven-game point streak.

What's next

Kings: At the Nashville Predators on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, FS-W, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, ROOT, NHL.TV)