Johnson scores in 3rd period, Blue Jackets beat Jets 3-1
By Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press on February 16, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Kent Johnson’s third-period goal was the tiebreaker, Joonas Korpisalo had 36 saves and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 on Thursday night. The Blue Jackets overcame a terrible first period, tying a season-low with just two shots on goal in the frame. They tied the game in the second period and moved ahead at 9:40 of the third with Johnson’s shot through a screen seconds after a power play had ended. Patrik Laine also scored for Columbus, and Boone Jenner scored into an empty net with 3 seconds left in the game. Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, and David Rittich had 21 saves. With Dallas off on Thursday, the Jets missed a chance to pull even with the Stars at the top of the Central Division. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Winnipeg. Columbus is still a distant last in the Metropolitan Division. The Jets got on the board in the final seconds of the first period on a power play. After a questionable hooking call on Columbus’ Erik Gudbranson, Connor got a pass from Blake Wheeler and buried a shot from the right circle for his 25th of the season. Laine tied the game on a power play 10 minutes into the second period when he shot over Rittich’s far shoulder from the left circle. Johnson got the tiebreaker with a shot from the left circle, then survived a 6-on-5 push by the Jets in the last two minutes. UP NEXT Jets: At New Jersey on Sunday. Blue Jackets: At Dallas on Saturday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports 16-15
