By Canadian Press

Tortorella picks up 500th NHL win as Blue Jackets down Canucks 4-3 in overtime

Dec 18, 2016 | 2:45 PM

VANCOUVER — The Columbus Blue Jackets made John Tortorella sweat for his 500th NHL victory.

Columbus blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the third period before Seth Jones scored 46 seconds into overtime Sunday as the Blue Jacked defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 for their ninth straight win.

Tortorella is the first U.S.-born coach to reach 500 victories, and while he downplayed the accomplishment, Columbus captain Nick Foligno said it was a special moment when he handed the 58-year-old the game puck in a boisterous locker-room.

“He says it doesn’t mean (anything), but it’s a lot of wins,” said Foligno. “He’s gone through a roller-coaster of a career … going through so many things. We’re really happy to have him at the helm here. He’s really helped push this group forward. Really gratifying for all the guys to see him get that.”

Tortorella, who took over seven games into last season, has the Blue Jackets (20-5-4) firing on all cylinders a third of the way through 2015-16 with points in 11 straight (10-0-1) to sit in the mix near the top of the powerhouse Metropolitan Division.

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“I have been so privileged to have the opportunity to coach as many games as I have in the league,” Tortorella said after becoming the 24th coach in NHL history to reach 500 wins. “To get this opportunity with this club when there are so many other people dying to get in, that’s what I’m so grateful for. Not numbers, just having the opportunity.”

But it looked like Tortorella might not get another opportunity after one forgettable season with the Canucks in 2013-14, a campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The fiery Boston native got off to a good start in Vancouver, but things quickly started to unravel. Tortorella was involved in an ugly incident where he attempted to charge into the Calgary Flames’ locker-room, and he also benched star goalie Roberto Luongo for the showcase Heritage Classic game, a move that ultimately led to the netminder’s trade to the Florida Panthers.

“It makes no difference, quite honestly,” Tortorella said when asked if getting to 500 against the Canucks meant more. “Coming here is fun for me because I have a lot of friends here. You guys may think that: ‘He wants to get back at them.’ That’s not the way I am thinking. It’s a tremendous city, the people always treated me well.”

Brandon Saad, with two, and Cam Atkinson, with a goal and an assist, scored in regulation for Columbus, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 14 saves for his league-leading 19th win. Alexander Wennberg added two assists.

Brandon Sutter, Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen replied for Vancouver (13-16-3). Ryan Miller finished with 21 stops.

Jones scored his fifth of the season on a 2-on-1 break with Atkinson in the extra period after Vancouver’s Ben Hutton hit the post at the other end. Jones was actually caught up the ice after his stick flew into the Canucks bench and he seemed to have to battle to pry it loose.

“I knew Cam was going to make a great play,” said Jones. “I didn’t know if he was going to shoot or not so I just went to the net with my stick down.”

Down 2-0 after two periods, the Canucks got one back when Sutter scored his ninth on a power play, and third goal in as many games, at 2:51 of the third.

Vancouver, which picked up a much-needed 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday following a demoralizing road trip, evened things when Daniel Sedin’s slapshot from well out deflected off Columbus defenceman Jack Johnson’s skate and passed a surprised Bobrovsky at 7:42.

The Blue Jackets retook the lead with 4:39 in regulation when Saad scored his second of the game on a nice feed from Wennberg, but Hansen tied it on a shot that went off Columbus defenceman Ryan Murray with 1:09 left on the clock.

“We found a way to get back in the third, not once but twice,” said Hansen. “We had an opportunity in overtime as well. Those little margins are whether or not you get two points.”

That the Canucks fought back at all came as a bit of surprise considering the Blue Jackets had surrendered just four goals combined in the third period over their last 15 games.

“The best thing I can say about tonight is I don’t think there was panic,” said Tortorella. “For a young group, I think we have had a little bit of success here early, I think they just held themselves through the ebbs and flows of the game and just stayed with it.”

Tied 0-0 through 20 minutes, the Blue Jackets’ top-ranked power play went to work in the second. Atkinson scored his 11th on a rebound off a point shot at 1:10 with Vancouver defenceman Luca Sbisa off in the box for interference.

Sbisa was then whistled for slashing midway through the period, and Columbus, which entered play clicking at 25.9 per cent with the man advantage, made Vancouver pay when Scott Hartnell fed a no-look, cross-crease pass to Saad for his 10th with 6:42 left before the fireworks in the third that had Tortorella’s blood boiling.

“He was pretty heated. We made him sweat for that win, but it was nice to be able to get that for him,” said Foligno. “He’s grown a lot as a coach and as a person. Nice to see him get rewarded.”

Notes: The Canucks announced Sunday that defenceman Erik Gudbranson will undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his wrist. … Vancouver plays back-to-back home games against Winnipeg on Tuesday and Thursday.

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press