DETROIT – Jack Roslovic scored three goals, including the winner at 3:19 of overtime, and added an assist to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 Saturday night.
“It’s great,” Roslovic said. “Whenever I can help the team in scoring goals, it’s important and it feels good.”
Recommended Videos
The Red Wings got goals from Dylan Larkin and Jakub Vrána, his second of the game, in the final few minutes of regulation to tie the game at 4-4.
“It’s good to see we have fight there,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’ve talked lots about it, so that’s definitely a positive. It’s a game sitting there to be had and we gotta find a way to win.”
Roslovic gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at 13:14 of the first period before Vrana tied it at 13:41 of the second when he scored on a breakaway. He skated around defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and beat goaltender Elvis Merzlikins through his pads.
Vrána has 10 goals in just 16 games this season and has seven goals and four assists in his last 10 games after missing most of the season due to shoulder surgery.
“We missed him big-time,” Larkin said. “I think there’s been guys stepping up, but it would have been nice to have that goal scoring this year. We were in a lot of close games and he seems to get his one chance and snipe and we need to keep that going into next year.”
Detroit defenseman Marc Staal made a perfect pass from the left boards to Sam Gagner at the right front of the net. and Gagner scored on the open side at 17:21 of the second to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. Gagner extended his goal streak to three games.
Cole Sillinger tied it 40 seconds later for Columbus and Roslovic notched his 14th goal early in the third before the Red Wings rallied.
“Obviously, it sucks giving up the lead in the third like that, but we stuck with it and we found a way to win,” said Zach Werenski, who had three assists. “This is a results-based business and we found a way to get two points tonight.”
Detroit goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 28 saves and Merzlikins had 34.
“I thought our leaders were there tonight and that’s what you need,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “When you’re short a man, you need leaders to step up and Jack had a huge game for us as well.”
ROSTER MOVES
After returning forward Taro Hirose to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, the Red Wings activated forward Mitchell Stephens from injured reserve Saturday. Stephens missed 55 games with a lower-body injury and played his first game since Nov. 13. Stephens assisted on Gagner’s goal, giving him five assists in 17 games. ... Defenseman Jake Walman missed the game with an upper-body injury. … The Blue Jackets placed forward Sean Kuraly in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Columbus opted to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
MILESTONE NIGHT
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin skated in his 500th career game. He is the 50th player in franchise history to hit that milestone and the fifth skater from the 2014 NHL draft to reach that mark. … Roslovic played in his 300th career game.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Host Ottawa Senators Tuesday night.
Blue Jackets: Host Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports