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Bertuzzi scores in OT as Wings beat Blue Jackets 3-2
By: Mike Stiles - Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Todd Bertuzzi (59) is congratulated for his game winning goal against Columbus (photo courtesy of Detroit Free Press)

(DETROIT) – Tyler Bertuzzi scored 15 seconds into overtime and Bobby Ryan became became the first player to score four times in his first three games with Detroit, leading the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. Bertuzzi was credited with the winning goal after the puck went off him and into the net following a rebound off Dylan Larkin's shot. Ryan had a tiebreaking goal late in the second after Anthony Mantha pulled Detroit into a 1-all tie with a power-play goal early in the period. Jonathan Bernier made 22 saves for the Red Wings, who split their opening four-game homestand in a relatively strong start after easily being the NHL's worst team last season. Columbus' Boone Jenner scored 1:38 into the game. Aleandre Texier tied it 5:04 into the third period on a goal that stood after the Red Wings challenged, hoping it would be negated by goaltender interference. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 24 shots for the Blue Jackets, who barely got settled in on their bench during the overtime before it was time to go to the dressing room. Ryan is providing quite a return on the $1 million, one year investment general manager Steve Yzerman made in the 33 year old forward in October. Ottawa put him on waivers for the purposes of a buyout it later finalized with two years left on his contract after he won the Masterton Trophy, the NHL’s award for perseverance, for publicly sharing his battle with alcohol. Ryan missed more than two months of last season after entering the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program. A decade ago, Ryan ranked among the league’s top scorers when he had 35 and 34 goals in consecutive years.



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