COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Ryan Kessler scored twice Sunday afternoon, as the Vancouver Canucks beat Columbus, 4-1.
Kessler scored in the first period when Vancouver was at full strength, and his third period tally was un-assisted when Vancouver was short-handed.
The goals were the first two scored by the fifth-year center this season.
Vancouver also got one goal each from Kevin Bieksa (power play) in the first and Markus Naslund in the third.
Goaltender Curtis Sanford, making his first start of the new season, stopped 35-of-36 Columbus shots, as the Canucks broke a two-game slide.
Columbus got a power-play goal from Rick Nash early in the second.
Goalie Pascal Leclaire was beaten three times on 18 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have split their last four games.
