DETROIT (AP) — Patrik Laine had his 10th NHL hat trick and the Columbus Blue Jackets snapped a 10-game road losing streak, holding off the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Saturday night.
Laine, whose previous hat trick came Feb. 17 last season against Chicago, had gone scoreless in his last nine games. Vladislav Gavrikov also scored for the Blue Jackets, and Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic had two assists apiece.
Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves for his first victory since Dec. 11.
Olli Maatta, Jake Walman and Lucas Raymond scored third-period goals for the Red Wings, and Ville Husso made 21 saves. Detroit beat Winnipeg and Toronto to open its three-game homestand.
The Blue Jackets scored three goals in a 2:43 span during the first period.
Laine scored his first goal of the game just after the Blue Jackets killed off Gavrikov's penalty. Johnny Gaudreau set up Laine's one-time from the left circle.
Gavrikov scored his third goal this season on a backhander during a scramble around the net.
Laine's second goal came on a fortunate break. Roslovic's shot went wide of the net, bounced off the back boards and onto Laine's stick.
Laine completed his hat trick with a slap shot from the left side just 1:32 into the second period. He has 12 goals this season.
The Red Wings broke through when Mathieu Olivier inadvertantly tipped the puck into his own net at 5:50 of the third. Maatta was credited with his fourth goal.
Walman made it 4-2 at 7:08 with his fifth goal.
Raymond's backhander with just over four minutes remaining pulled Detroit within a goal.
GAME NOTES
Gaudreau has 22 points in 16 career games against the Red Wings. ... Roslovic notched his 100th point with the Blue Jackets when he assisted on Laine's first goal. ... The Red Wings won the first two games of the three-game series. ... Columbus is 7-0-0 when leading after two periods.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Host New York Rangers on Monday night.
Red Wings: At Colorado on Monday night.
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