01-11-2020, 06:42 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Almost none of the 14,070 fans on hand knew that Mark Letestu scored the game-winning goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was OK with him. He was just happy his team came away with two points. Letestu redirected Jack Johnsons shot from the point with 2:38 left, lifting the Blue Jackets past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Monday night. The goal was initially credited to James Wisniewski immediately after the game. Johnson, celebrating his 27th birthday, thought he had the winner until the goal was changed long after the teams had left the ice. Letestu said the crowd, that was so exuberant during the Blue Jackets rally in the second half of last season, had a hand in carrying the club. "It was especially loud coming down the stretch," said Letestu, who has four goals in five games after netting only one before then. "When we got that last power play, (the fans) could sense it, too, that we were close. Maybe they willed us on to score that one. "It was rockin out there." It was the Blue Jackets season-high fourth win in a row. There were plenty of others in the spotlight before Letestus winner. Nathan Horton scored his 200th NHL goal, also during a third-period power play, and Ryan Johansen scored for Columbus, which is 5-1 in the new year. Sergei Bobrovsky had 26 saves. "We showed some character coming back," said Horton, a free-agent signing from Boston last summer who missed the first 40 games for his new team while recovering from shoulder surgery. "Thats what we needed when we needed it most." Tampa Bay had been 17-1 when leading after two periods. The Blue Jackets had a man advantage for the sixth time after Tyler Johnson was called for hooking with 3:28 remaining. Just 50 seconds later, Wisniewski fed Johnson for a hard shot that Letestu deflected past Anders Lindback through heavy traffic in front. "They found a lane there," said Lindback, who had 25 saves. Columbus, 2 for 6 with a man advantage, dominated the rest of the way. Wisniewski barely missed on an empty-net attempt with a minute left, and Matt Calvert and Brandon Dubinsky helped to keep the puck away from the hard-pressing Lightning. "We got our game back," coach Todd Richards said about the step up after a dismal second period. "To me, thats a sign of the character youre looking for from your group. Teams are going to make pushes, get some momentum in the game ... but I like the way we went after it in the third period." Alex Killorn and Victor Hedman had goals for Tampa Bay, and Lindback stopped 25 shots. "Ultimately, we had way too many penalties," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It turned into a special-teams game, and their special teams were better than ours." Columbus tied it at 2 at 3:09 of the third when Horton wristed a rising shot from the top of the left circle just inside the far post. The power-play tally was his second goal for Columbus after notching 142 in six seasons with Florida and 56 in three years with the Bruins. Johnson didnt end up with the winner but did have two assists. "It felt nice to have a comeback win on the birthday," he said. "I can rest easy a little bit more tonight." NOTES: Columbus RW Cam Atkinson had a three-game goal streak end. C Boone Jenner had scored in two straight. ... Tampa Bay C Steven Stamkos missed his 29th game (broken right leg). The Lightning fell to 15-10-4 without him. ... The last time the teams met, the Blue Jackets won 1-0 when Bobrovsky stopped all 18 shots he faced before leaving with a strained groin that would sideline him for a month. ... The Lightning played the second of a three-game road trip that ends Tuesday at New York. The Blue Jackets opened a span in which they will play five of six at home. John Johnson Jersey . Perhaps their first trip to the city of Winnipeg in 16 years can serve as the shakeup they need. Rod Thorn Jersey . A strong fastball. A big, bending curveball that can buckle hitters at the knees. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, Elias put the entire package together against one of the leagues strongest lineups. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/700s-...onics.html. The Wild, playing their first game since leading scorer Mikko Koivu broke his ankle Saturday at Washington, have won three straight for the first time since Nov. 1-5. Koivu underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks. Dennis Johnson Jersey . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Ray Allen Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders running back received the West Division nomination for the CFLs top individual award Thursday in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and leagues eight head coaches.Kolo Toure should complete his move to Celtic on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers has confirmed. The 35-year-old centre-half, capped over 100 times by Ivory Coast, worked under Rodgers during his time at Anfield and was released by Liverpool this summer.Toure arrived in Glasgow on Saturday for a medical and will become the new managers second signing, although Rodgers does not anticipate having the defender available for Wednesdays Champions League qualifier at Astana. I would think Wednesday would be too soon, Rodgers said. We will probably look towards the weekend, give him game-time against Barcelona [on Saturday] and assess where he is at.I brought him into Liverpool to add that bit of experience, and you saw from his impact there, he was a very important player. He played in the Europa League final, and he was outstanding in the big games when I was there.He looks after himself, a wonderful professional. He has big experience, and he can really help the young players in the squad. Toure made 14 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League last season Toure told Sky Sports News HQ: Its a great football club. Im ready for a new challenge and looking forward to it.ddddddddddddThe Champions League is a great competition. For sure its very important to qualify. We will give everything weve got.Rodgers was in the market for defensive cover with Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata injured, while Efe Ambrose was dropped for the second leg against Lincoln Red Imps. Toure joined Arsenal in 2002, becoming part of the Invincibles side that went unbeaten as they claimed the Premier League title in 2004. Brendan Rodgers remains in the market for more signings He joined Manchester City in 2009, winning the title under Roberto Mancini in 2012, before his move to Merseyside the following year.Celtic are working on other deals, according to Rodgers, who has not given up hope of bringing in another player before Wednesday.Hopefully we can get some business done, he said. Its going to be tight. We need to wait and see, theres work going on behind the scenes. Also See: Rodgers wants new faces McGregor: Astana will be tough International Champions Cup guide Roberts sends timely message ' ' '