Loss to Chicago is costly for Blue Jackets

Columbus had a 2-0 lead against the visiting Blackhawks, but that didn’t last in a 3-2loss, and the defeat was costly as the team’s starting goaltender was injured.

The Chicago Blackhawks won in a shootout, and the Columbus Blue Jackets may have lost something more valuable than the game: their starting goalie.

Joonas Korpisalo had to leave the game with an injury after unsuccessfully trying to stop the first-round overtime shot from Jonathan Toews.

Columbus backup Elvis Merzlikins entered the game cold and allowed the third-round shooter, Patrick Kane, to juke him and get one in on the net.

Chicago goalie Robin Lehner then shut down Nathan Gerbe in the third round of the tiebreaker to preserve the Blackhawks’ 3-2 win.

There was no update on the nature or seriousness of the injury to Korpisalo, who has been outstanding as of late.

The Blue Jackets have been ravaged by injuries, but the loss of Korpisalo for any extended time could devastating.

Merlikins has played in nine games this season and has yet to get a win.

“(Korpisalo’s) been a rock for us for awhile,” Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said.

“Hopefully it’s not too serious . ... We would have liked to have gotten that win for him tonight because he played outstanding again.”

The Blackhawks, who have won four of the last five, got third-period goals from Dylan Strome and Erik Gustafsson to send the game into the extra period.

NFL

MCCAFFREY IN ELITE COMPANY >> Christian McCaffrey has made a habit of writing down goals before every season.

One of those was becoming the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season after coming up just short last year. McCaffrey reached that milestone on Dec. 29, joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk in that elite club.

“It’s cool to accomplish one of the goals that you write down,” McCaffrey said.

“But I can’t reiterate this enough, the most important statistic is winning.”

McCaffrey finished the season with 2,392 yards from scrimmage, which ranks third in NFL history behind Chris Johnson and Faulk.

PAUL VERNON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Blue Jackets forward Gustav Nyquist controls the puck in front of the Blackhawks’ Adam Boqvist during the second period on Dec. 29 in Columbus.