Blue Jackets take down Lightning with barrage in third

Erik Gudbranson notched the game-winner as the Blue Jackets rallied past the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Thursday night to break a four-game winless streak.

Down 2-1 in the third, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski helped tie it at 2-all when he one-timed a long shot from the point. Boone Jenner deflected the puck past Matt Tomkins at 6:40 for his fifth goal of the season.

Gudbranson, who scored just once last season, rocketed a slapper from above the right circle to net his first of this season and give Columbus two goals a span of 2 minutes, 43 seconds.

Kirill Marchenko and Johnny Gaudreau (empty-netter) potted their first tallies this season for the Blue Jackets, who won for the first time in their past five tries (1-2-2) and for just the third time in the past 12 games against the Lightning (3-8-1).

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (3-2-2) stopped 27 shots.

The Lightning's Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist. Conor Sheary also hit the net as Tampa Bay's six-game point streak ended (3-1-3). They are 0-3-1 on the road.

A four-year netminder at Ohio State, Tomkins (24 saves) got the crease in his return to the Buckeye State's capital, with Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper saying the schedule set up just right to give Tomkins his second career NHL start.

Tomkins got his welcome-home moment on Gaudreau's breakaway barely a minute into the game. Gaudreau attempted a backhander through the goalie's pads, but Tomkins did not open up in the blue paint and stuffed the try.

Five minutes later after Tampa Bay's failed clearing pass, Columbus put up the game's first goal when Dmitri Voronkov whipped a dot-to-dot pass off his backhand that Marchenko buried at 6:29. Cole Sillinger assisted.

Stamkos led an odd-man rush early in the second with Nick Paul on his left side. However, the captain's try at a pass over to Paul banked off Columbus defenseman Jake Bean's skate and in for Stamkos' fourth goal, which was unassisted.

Another fortunate bounce off Stamkos' stick put the Lightning up 2-1 less than two minutes later. His pass clicked off Emil Bemstrom' skate and to the far post to Sheary, who slammed in his first Tampa Bay goal at 4:42.