Blue Jackets defeat Stars with five seconds left in OT

COLUMBUS --Zach Werenski scored with five seconds left in overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 win against the Dallas Stars at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Werenski and Max Domi each had a goal and an assist, and Jack Roslovic had three assists for the Blue Jackets (11-12-6), who had lost three straight. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves.
Werenski, who led NHL defensemen with 20 goals last season, scored his second of the season on the rebound of Oliver Bjorkstrand's shot.
"He shot it, and I just tried to follow the rebound. Not much to it," Werenski said. "It wasn't the best game, but we found a way to win. That's the important thing."
Andrew Cogliano had a goal and an assist, and Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for the Stars (8-9-6), including on a penalty shot by Emil Bemstrom with the game tied 3-3 at 9:02 of the third period.
Merzlikins saved Jason Robertson's backhand from in close at 2:53 of overtime.
"When you get those chances in overtime you hope maybe it would go in," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "We had some unreal looks at the end of that third period. It's unreal the chances we had and didn't score."
The teams will finish the back-to-back set here Sunday (5 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-SW, NHL.TV).
Domi gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at 9:07 of the first period. The forward has scored five goals this season and four points (two goals, two assists) in the past two games.
"I think the last five, six I have felt like myself," Domi said. "We found a way to win; that's what it is all about. We knew we had to be better. We took it upon ourselves. No one is going to come and save us.
"Anytime you win, no matter what team you are, where you are in [the] standings, what time of year, a win is a win. That is why we play hockey. No one wants to lose. This was a huge two points tonight. Get ready to go for tomorrow and hopefully do the same thing."

Cogliano tied it 1-1 at 16:44. After taking a pass from Radek Faksa in stride at the top of the left face-off circle, he scored from the dot with a wrist shot under the glove of Merzlikins.
Andrej Sekera gave Dallas a 2-1 lead at 7:17 of the second period. It was his first goal in 36 games, since Jan. 3, 2020, against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blue Jackets did not have a shot in the second period until Bjorkstrand was credited with one at 11:33.
"We did so many good things," Cogliano said. "Our system is controlling the game. They had [14] shots after the second period. … The system is working, guys are working hard."
Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella brought his players together to regroup during a media timeout at 16:37. Eight seconds later, Cam Atkinson tied it 2-2 from low in the left face-off circle off a pass from Domi.
"The TV timeout and us talking, it wasn't leaning into them," Tortorella said. "It was just an honest conversation about where we are in the game right now and some of the things we might try to do to turn it around."

Nick Foligno put the Blue Jackets ahead 3-2 at 17:45 with his first goal in 16 games. Denis Gurianov tied it 3-3 at 5:08 of the third.
NOTES: The tripping call on Stars defenseman Joel Hanley that led to the penalty shot was the lone penalty in the game. … Dallas forward Alexander Radulov (lower body) missed his 15th straight game after he was said to be a game-time decision. Forward Roope Hintz (lower body) also was out after playing against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. ... The Blue Jackets have scored the first goal an NHL-best 20 times (9-6-5). The Stars are 1-7-4 when allowing the first goal. … Patrik Laine played 18:44, second among Columbus forwards to Bjorkstrand (20:28), after he did not play the final 9:22 of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. … Atkinson played his 600th NHL game, all for the Blue Jackets. He has scored 389 points (209 goals, 180 assists).