COLUMBUS (Interstat) — Valeri Nichushkin and Kent Johnson scored in the shootout, and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 Thursday night at Nationwide Arena for their third straight home win.

Cam Talbot made 27 saves on 28 shots and was Columbus’ top star. The Blue Jackets improved to 5-0 in games that have gone beyond regulation and moved to 7-7 this season. Dallas fell to 9-7. The Stars were the visiting team, but they could not hold their lead after a tight defensive game that stretched into extra time.

The first period was scoreless, but it was busy. Sean Monahan won an early faceoff against Wyatt Johnston, and Conor Garland delivered a hit on Nils Lundkvist. Columbus had chances from Adam Fantilli, Zach Werenski and Kent Johnson, while Dallas countered with shots from Thomas Harley, Jason Robertson and Esa Lindell. Werenski hit the right post midway through the period, and Talbot stopped Lindell and Robertson during a stretch of back-and-forth play. DeSmith also made key saves for Dallas, including stops on Kent Johnson and Dmitri Voronkov. The period included offsetting roughing penalties to Dallas’ Lian Bichsel and Columbus’ Valeri Nichushkin, plus a holding call on Dallas’ Tyler Myers. Neither goaltender gave way, and both teams blocked several shots in front of the net.

The second period followed a similar script. Talbot and Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith traded saves as the teams combined for blocks, faceoff wins and physical play. Harley remained active for Dallas with shots from the point, and Robertson and Jamie Benn generated looks around the net. Columbus answered through Fantilli, Monahan and Mathieu Olivier, but Talbot was square to the puck. Werenski kept firing from the blue line, and Fantilli put several shots on net as the Blue Jackets built pressure. Columbus killed a tripping penalty to Ivan Provorov late in the period and kept the game tied. The Blue Jackets kept pressing with Werenski from the blue line and Kent Johnson off the rush, while Dallas leaned on Johnston and Rantanen to create offense. Talbot stopped Monahan and Olivier during one sequence, and DeSmith answered with saves on Fantilli and Cole Sillinger.

Dallas broke through when Mikko Rantanen scored on a wrist shot with an assist from Wyatt Johnston. The goal gave the Stars a 1-0 lead and put Columbus in comeback mode. Rantanen’s goal was one of Dallas’ best moments of the night, and it came after a stretch in which the Stars pressed for the opener. Johnston was involved throughout and finished with an assist, two shots and a hit. Harley also had a strong game for Dallas with five shots and three hits, while Robertson and Benn continued to test Talbot. Dallas’ defense blocked several Columbus attempts, and DeSmith stayed sharp as the Blue Jackets pushed for an answer.

Columbus answered with Werenski’s backhand goal, assisted by Kent Johnson and Matthew Knies. The goal tied the game and energized the home crowd. Werenski finished with a goal, five shots and a hit, while Kent Johnson had an assist and three shots. Knies also recorded an assist. The Blue Jackets kept pushing after the equalizer, with Fantilli recording five shots and Monahan adding a shot and a hit. Dallas’ Harley remained busy, and Johnston kept creating chances, but neither team could find a winner in regulation. Columbus had late looks from Werenski and Monahan, while Dallas got shots from Harley and Seguin before the game moved past regulation.

The game went beyond regulation and was decided in a shootout. Nichushkin and Kent Johnson converted for Columbus, and Talbot did the rest. Talbot finished with 27 saves on 28 shots and secured the win. The announced attendance at Nationwide Arena was 15,020. Columbus won its third straight home game and remained unbeaten in games decided beyond regulation. The Blue Jackets also improved their strong home form with another tight defensive effort.

Talbot has been steady for Columbus. He won his previous three starts, including a 7-2 victory over Colorado with 27 saves on 29 shots, a 4-3 win at Philadelphia with 28 saves on 31 shots and a 2-1 win over Vegas with 26 saves on 27 shots. Against Dallas, he stopped 27 of 28 shots and gave the Blue Jackets a chance to rally. Dallas had won 6-5 at Washington in its previous game, while Columbus had beaten Colorado 7-2. The Blue Jackets also avenged a 3-1 loss at Dallas earlier this season. Dallas next hosts San Jose, and Columbus visits Buffalo.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Dallas 3, Columbus 2, and its ELO system gave Dallas a 56.4 percent probability to win. Dallas was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under line was 5.5, and the total score was 3.