COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Igor Chernyshov scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 1:25 remaining, as the San Jose Sharks rallied to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, snapping a six-game losing streak.
The win moved San Jose within four points of Nashville for the second Western Conference wild-card spot.
Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, and Will Smith added two assists. Alex Nedeljkovic made 21 saves. For Columbus, Denton Mateychuk and Cole Sillinger scored, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 33 shots. Despite the loss, the Blue Jackets slipped into the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Columbus struck early, taking the lead 31 seconds into the game on Mateychuk’s wrist shot from the right circle. It was the fastest goal of the Blue Jackets’ season. The goal was also the team’s 55th by a defenseman this year, a franchise record and the most in the NHL.
San Jose tied it late in the first period when Chernyshov scored off a neutral-zone turnover with 2:33 left.
Sillinger put Columbus back in front 2-1 with 7:51 remaining in the second period. Celebrini answered early in the third, tying it 57 seconds in by scoring three seconds into a power play to snap a six-game scoring slump.
Chernyshov then scored again, putting the Sharks ahead for good with 1:25 remaining.
Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov left in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
Up next, the Sharks host St. Louis on Monday. The Blue Jackets host Boston on Sunday.