NHL: Columbus 3, Ottawa 2 (SO)

OTTAWA, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev scored in the shootout Thursday, giving the Columbus Blue Jackets a 3-2 victory over Ottawa.

It was the Blue Jackets' first trip to Ottawa in four seasons and their first victory in franchise history on the Senators' home ice.

Columbus forced overtime on a goal by Sergei Fedorov 5:28 into the third period. Nash also scored in regulation and Pascal Leclaire made 27 saves.

Leclaire stopped Daniel Alfredsson and Antoine Vermette in the shootout, to secure the Blue Jackets' third win in 12 games.

Ottawa has lost four of its last five.

The Senators got a goal just 35 seconds into the game from Cory Stillman, but managed only a power-play tally from Andrej Meszaros after that.