Columbus thought it had scored just 1:23 into the game when Max Domi set up Bjorkstrand across the slot for a shot past goalie Thomas Greiss, but the goal was waved off because the Jackets were offside. It was the rare double review, as officials first looked to see if Detroit had scored previously -- Merzlikins kept a puck from going in on the line -- and then checked the offside review, with Eric Robinson entering the zone just ahead of the play.
Robinson nearly atoned for that but hit the post later in the period, while Jack Roslovic also had a good look on Greiss on the power play as he skated through the entire defense only to be stopped by the Wings netminder. It was all part of a first period in which Columbus put 16 shots on net and had 32 shot attempts.
The Red Wings also had some chances, though, as new acquisition Jakub Vrana was denied early by Merzlikins on a point-blank look while Vladislav Namestnikov hit the post late in the frame.
Detroit continued to hold that momentum into the second period and had 10 of the first 11 shots on goal, but Merzlikins was again equal to the challenge, stopping Vrana on a breakaway on the first shift then later getting over to get the pad on Adam Erne's rebound try. Alexandre Texier also helped the cause when he got his stick on a shot by Namestnikov when it appeared the Wings winger had the entire net open.
Columbus also had some looks with Mikhail Grigorenko and Bjorkstrand each denied on the rush in the second half of the period, while Domi hit the crossbar as well from the right dot.
The Blue Jackets also had two gilded chances early in the third but could not score. Domi was open at the back post on a feed from Dean Kukan but sent it just wide, while Cam Atkinson had a shorthanded breakaway shortly thereafter but was denied by Greiss.
Detroit countered as Vrana was stopped by the pad of Merzlikins after the CBJ goalie spilled a rebound, and Merzlikins also stopped Namestnikov later in the period on a follow-up shot that played the Jackets netminder as much as he played it.
The teams continued an even game but went to overtime from there. In the extra frame, Merzlikins denied Vrana on another breakaway and swallowed up a rebound try from the slot by Michael Rasmussen. The Jackets also got a bit lucky when Filip Zadina missed an open net in the last seconds of OT, leading to a shootout.
There, Laine opened things up with a slick finish through Greiss' legs. Merzlikins denied Vrana and Adam Erne before Bjorkstrand finished things off by beating Greiss clean.
