Resilient Blue Jackets remain in wild-card chase after crazy comeback victory over Canucks

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Falling behind by three goals 14 minutes into a game would rattle most teams.

With everything the Columbus Blue Jackets have faced in the past seven months though, it was just another night at the office.

The Blue Jackets staged the eighth three-goal comeback win in franchise history — and second this season — beating the Vancouver Canucks 7-6 in a shootout on Friday night to jump back into a playoff spot for the first time since March 14.

Columbus' win and losses by Montreal and the New York Rangers have all three teams at 75 points.

“It’s definitely not the way you want to start games being down like that, but coming in after the first honestly we were like, we’re coming back. There’s no way we’re losing this game,” said defenseman Dante Fabbro, who had a goal and two assists.

Columbus' other three-goal comeback this season came on Nov. 21 against Tampa Bay, which was also a 7-6 score. The Blue Jackets, though, won that in overtime.

The Blue Jackets have been riding an emotional rollercoaster since the death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau in late August. Gaudreau was killed along with his brother, Matthew, while riding their bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.

First-year coach Dean Evason has stressed to his team trying to be even keel despite what might have felt like a sinking feeling.

“We’ve talked all year about learning from different experiences," Evason said. “You build up that memory it’s OK if things go a little sideways. I don’t think it’s a shock that this team handles adversity pretty well. If our team doesn't show any panic, why would we as coaches?"

The Blue Jackets fell behind 3-0 in the first period before scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second to tie it. Vancouver regained the lead with a pair of goals before Columbus scored three straight again.

The Canucks though sent it to overtime when Aatu Raty's second goal of the third period made it 6-all.

“That’s on us. it’s happened a few games in a row here, and it’s something we need to fix,” Blue Jackets team captain Boone Jenner said. “It’s not easy when you spot the other team a couple goals in the first period. We can start better, but after that i liked how we gathered ourselves. It says a lot about group that we stayed resilient. It’s a character win.”

Columbus is still in playoff contention despite a 4-7-1 record in March and a power-play unit that was mired in an 0-for-25 drought until Jenner's third-period goal.

Jenner — who missed the first 56 games due to shoulder surgery — has goals in three straight games and has 14 points in 15 games.

The Blue Jackets don't have much time to savor this comeback win. They are at Ottawa on Saturday night.

With 11 games remaining, Columbus will have six at home as they try to secure a playoff spot in a crowded field where seven teams are within six points of the final wild card.

“That’s one of those games you want to sit on for a few days because they’re very emotional, but the challenge for our group is to reset really quick because we have another big one tomorrow," said right winger Mathieu Olivier, who had a goal and an assist. "It’s that time of year. It’s exciting.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) skates past Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) after scoring in a shootout of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson celebrates after scoring in a shootout in an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Friday, March 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) blocks a shot by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, left, in overtime of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins celebrates after the Blue Jackets defeated the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL hockey game Friday, March 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Friday, March 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of writers, editors and publishers are to gather Thursday night for PEN America's annual gala, hosted by Amber Ruffin and featuring a tribute to actor-publisher Sarah Jessica Parker.

Ruffin, the writer-comedian, will have a high-profile platform after she was disinvited from April's White House Correspondents Association dinner. Ruffin is known for her blunt criticism of President Donald Trump, and the WHCA said it wanted the event to focus on journalism.

Soon after the association's decision, PEN announced that Ruffin had agreed to preside over its signature event, a dinner-fundraiser held at the American Museum of Natural History.

“She is truly emblematic of the talented creators who we need on stages and in writers’ rooms during a time of unprecedented censorship in this country,” PEN co-interim CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said at the time.

PEN itself, the century-old free expression organization, is still recovering from a tumultuous 2024. Allegations that leadership was reluctant to criticize Israel's invasion of Gaza and slow to respond to the suffering of Palestinians, including Palestinian writers and journalists, led so many writers to withdraw from PEN's spring awards ceremony and World Voices festival that both were canceled. PEN CEO Suzanne Nossel departed at the end of the year; a permanent replacement has not yet been announced.

The awards night and World Voices returned this month, although with reminders of the ongoing war in Gaza. Several prize nominees withdrew from competition, including two of the five finalists for the $75,000 Jean Stein Book Award for a work of “originality, merit, and impact.” The daughters of Stein, the late author, editor and philanthropist, decided that the prize money would be donated to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund and to Palestine Legal, a U.S.-based defense organization.

On Thursday, PEN will honor the imprisoned Egyptian poet and activist Galal El-Behairy with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, given to dissidents who have been jailed. Members of his family will accept the award for him.

Parker is to receive the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award, presented in previous years to Patti Smith,Robert Caro and Stephen Sondheim among others. Parker has been a longtime champion of books and literacy and runs the publishing imprint SJP Lit, where authors include Lucy Caldwell, Linda Grant and Elysha Chang.

Wesleyan President Michael S. Roth, a leading critic of Trump's threats to cancel research funding at Columbia University and other schools, is this year's winner of the PEN/Benenson Courage Award. PEN is giving its Business Visionary award to Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged.

Governor of Maine Janet Mills attends the PEN America Spring Literary Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Author Sebastian Junger attends the PEN America Spring Literary Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Actor Sarah Jessica Parker attends the PEN America Spring Literary Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Actor Sarah Jessica Parker attends the PEN America Spring Literary Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Comedian Amber Ruffin attends the PEN America Spring Literary Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Sarah Jessica Parker appears at the premiere of "Hocus Pocus 2" in New York on Sept. 27, 2022, left, and Amber Ruffin appears at the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2023, (AP Photo)