COLUMBUS, Ohio – Derek Dorsett's third-period goal lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets over the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Tuesday night.
A potential tying goal by St. Louis with 1.8 seconds left in regulation was disallowed. A scrum in the final seconds resulted in a pileup in the crease. Video replays showed the Blues' David Perron falling on top of a prone Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason, and then shoving the puck into the net.
After a lengthy review, the goal was disallowed.
Mason had 31 saves and James Wisniewski scored a power-play goal with 0.1 seconds left in the first period for Columbus.
David Backes picked up his 17th goal for the Blues, who had a four-game win streak snapped.
Columbus captain Rick Nash, who has been dealing with trade rumors, had two punishing hits on St. Louis' Kevin Shattenkirk and Scott Nichol.
With the game tied at 1 through two periods, the Blue Jackets got the go-ahead goal at 6:49 of the third. They had been buzzing the net when Samuel Pahlsson put an off-balance shot on Jaroslav Halak while skating past the goal.
Halak got a piece of the puck but ended up lying on his stomach while the puck sat a few feet away, waiting in the crease. Dorsett got to the loose puck first and jammed it into the net for his 10th of the season.
All the rest of the scoring took place in a span of 1:09 late in the first period — and both goals came on the same power play.
Columbus was on a late power play when Blue Jackets winger Jeff Carter couldn't control the puck. Perron retrieved it and raced down the ice, passing to Backes, who came in from the right wing, deked and then slid a backhand past Mason.
With 2 seconds left in the period and the Blue Jackets still on the power play, Carter won a faceoff in his offensive zone, the puck going back near the boards to Mark Letestu, who just returned after missing the last 17 games with a broken hand. He slid a quick pass to Wisniewski for a one-timer that had to be reviewed. After a minute, it was determined to be a goal, with the puck crossing the goal line with 0.1 seconds left in the period.
The fans, prepared to boo just seconds before, roared when the goal was signaled.
Wisniewski had also played a pivotal role earlier in the period. In a scramble in front of the goal, the Blues had two or three whacks at the puck but Mason turned them all away. But a rebounded went to Chris Stewart, who was alone in front of the net. He slid the puck on goal, but Wisniewski was there to pull it back an instant before it completely crossed the goal line.
NOTES: Scouts from Tampa Bay, Dallas, Colorado, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Washington and Los Angeles were at the game. ... The loss was only the third in regulation in his past 20 starts since Nov. 29 for Halak, who also had 31 saves. ... The Blues, coached by former Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock, had won the past three meetings.
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Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rustymillerap.
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