Tortorella wins No. 500 as Blue Jackets tie club mark with 9th straight victory
The Columbus Blue Jackets may not lose again this year.
John Tortorella's club won its ninth straight Sunday, a 4-3 overtime decision over the Canucks in Vancouver. The win was Tortorella's 500th of his NHL career, coming against the team that fired him one year into a five-year contract.
Tortorella is the first American-born head coach to reach the milestone, and the 24th overall.
The victory was earned by Columbus. The Blue Jackets blew a 2-0 lead before going up 3-2 with under five minutes to play in the third. Vancouver then tied it up with 1:09 to play. The Canucks' three third-period goals were the first three allowed by the Blue Jackets in the final period this month.
#CBJ captain Nick Foligno presented Tortorella the puck and whole club applauded for him room, celebrating win No. 500.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 18, 2016
Columbus' nine straight victories matches a club record it set in 2015. The Blue Jackets look to make history Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Kings.
NINE STRAIGHT. @BlueJacketsNHL 👀#AllForOhio
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 18, 2016
In more record-setting news: Blue Jackets blue-liner Zach Werenski equaled the club record for most points in a season by a rookie defenseman, picking up an assist to give him 21 points in 29 games.
It's been that kind of year in Ohio.