Blue Jackets beat Rangers in OT for fifth straight win

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Pierre-Luc Dubois scored 31 seconds into overtime and the Blue Jackets beat the Rangers, 4-3, on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.

Dubois’ 14th goal came after Columbus tied the game with less than three minutes left in regulation. Blue Jackets backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 19 saves for the win.

The Rangers took a 3-2 lead on Chris Kreider’s second goal of the game at 12:06 of the third period and appeared to go ahead by two several minutes later on a goal by Ryan Strome, but Columbus coach John Tortorella challenged the play and it was ruled offside.

Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski then tied it at 17:40 when he scored his seventh of the season after the puck went back to him at the point and he fired it past Henrik Lundqvist.

Sixteen of the last 18 games between the Rangers and Blue Jackets have been decided by one or two goals.

The Rangers were coming off a 3-2 home shootout loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. They have lost five of their last six home games in extra time, starting with a Dec. 2 shootout loss to Winnipeg.

The Rangers have points in seven straight home games but only two of them wins, going 2-0-5 during that stretch. New York is 3-6-5 overall since Nov. 23. And with a 4-10-2 road record, they are facing seven of their next nine games away from home.

Korpisalo made his first start since Dec. 11, when he lost, 3-2, to Vancouver. Columbus had been 5-0-1 since behind starter Sergei Bobrovsky.

High school wrestling

FAMILY OF WRESTLER WHO CUT DREADS WON’T SEEK LEGAL ACTION » An attorney for a New Jersey high school wrestler forced by a referee to cut his dreadlocks before a match to avoid a forfeit says the boy’s family won’t pursue legal action.

The Buena Regional school board held an emergency meeting Wednesday night.

The board said the Buena High School wrestling team won’t compete in events officiated by referee Alan Maloney.

Wrestler Andrew Johnson had his dreadlocks cut minutes before the match Dec. 19.

Johnson, who is black, had a cover over his hair, but Maloney, who is white, said that wouldn’t do. Maloney didn’t respond to requests for comment.

At Wednesday’s packed meeting, the school’s board said its investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Press of Atlantic City reports Johnson’s family didn’t attend the meeting.

Soccer

INTER MILAN FAN DIES AFTER CLASHES WITH NAPOLI SUPPORTERS » An Inter Milan fan has died following clashes with Napoli supporters outside San Siro stadium ahead of a Serie A game on Wednesday, which was also marred by racist chants.

Milan police chief Marcello Cardona said Thursday that investigators believe the 35-yearold fan, Daniele Belardinelli, may have been fatally struck by a van or SUV during the clashes.

Four Napoli fans were injured and at least three people arrested.

Cardona said he will request that Inter fans be banned from traveling to away games for the rest of the season and that the northern end of the San Siro, where Inter’s “ultra” fans are based, be closed until March 31.

The game was also marred by racist chants which targeted Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

The Senegal international, who had monkey noises directed at him throughout the match, received two yellow cards in quick succession, the second for sarcastically applauding the referee after being shown the first.

After the game, Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti threatened to lead his team off the field the next time one of his players was subjected to continued racist abuse. Ancelotti asked several times for the match against Inter to be halted, and announcements warning fans this would happen were made but no further action was taken.