COLUMBUS – Zach Werenski scored 1:54 into overtime and the Blue Jackets beat the Florida Panthers 1-0.
Werenski picked up the puck off the right boards, circled around to the bottom of the circle and beat former teammate Sergei Bobrovski, who had made 45 saves until then.
The Blue Jackets extended their points streak to nine games while the Panthers lost for just the second time in their last nine games.
Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins had 32 saves in picking up his fourth shutout of the season.
Columbus has won eight of nine continuing an improbable turnaround that has the Blue Jackets climbing into contention in the NHL’s rugged Metropolitan Division.
Tanking fast in early December, the Blue Jackets pulled off a stunning 18-2-5 run despite losing 10 regulars to injuries, including starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
His backup, Merzlikins, got his first NHL win in Dec. 31 and since then is 12-2-0 with four shutouts.
The Blue Jackets returned from their NHL-mandated break by picking up three points in a road back-to-back and moved into third place in the Metro.