COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Defenseman Darren Van Impe scored his first goal of the season with 2:36 left in the third period Wednesday night as the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied from a three-goal deficit and forged a 4-4 tie with the Vancouver Canucks.
Columbus had killed most of a double high-sticking minor on defenseman Scott Lachance when Canucks goaltender Peter Skudra stretched to stop Sean Pronger. But Van Impe, who signed as a free agent on Jan. 20, put in the rebound for his first goal in 15 games since March 30.
Defenseman Mattias Ohlund almost won it in overtime for Vancouver, but his shot with 1:50 remaining his the goalpost. That came moments after Marc Denis denied All-Star Markus Naslund from the left side on a two on one.
Naslund had a pair of assists and fellow All-Star Todd Bertuzzi collected a goal and an assist as the Canucks built a 4-1 lead midway through the second period.
Naslund set up goals by Bertuzzi and defenseman Sami Salo four minutes apart early in the second before Trevor Linden added his 10th just after a power play expired at 10:08.
But Columbus quickly got within 4-3 as Tyler Wright scored with 76 seconds to go in the period and Mike Sillinger added a power-play goal 52 seconds later. Wright backhanded his own rebound past Skudra and Sillinger tipped a shot by All-Star Ray Whitney for his 14th goal.
Trent Klatt gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with his 10th goal, beating Denis with a wrist shot from the slot.
David Vyborny tied it with 2:31 to go in the period. Skudra mishandled the puck behind the net and former Canuck Andrew Cassels shoved it in front to set up Vyborny's 13th goal.
Linden also picked up two assists for Vancouver, which is unbeaten in its last five games (2
3).
