With one backhand, the Columbus Blue Jackets nine-game winless streak ended Monday night in front of a nationally televised game.
 
Fredrik Modin jammed in his own rebound with 1:48 remaining in overtime to lift the Jackets past the Detroit Red Wings, 1-0, in front of 18,421 in Nationwide Arena.
 
“It feels good to get a win, finally,” Modin said. “It’s been a struggle. We’ve been trying to find our game here for a long period of time, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for us.”
 
The win broke a franchise-worst nine-game winless streak (0-7-2) dating back to the 2003-04 season. It’s also the team’s third win in 19 games.

Steve Mason played like the Calder Trophy winner he was a year ago, stopping all 34 shots he faced. He made several glove saves in the second period when the Red Wings had a two-man advantage for 43 seconds.
 
It was his second shutout of the season and 12th of his career, matching the mark Marc Denis had from 2000-06.
 
“For myself, this was a good game,” Mason said. “But it’s a team effort at the same time. What I did tonight is what’s expected of me. I need to do it more often.”
 
Modin took a pass from Fedor Tyutin, carried it into the offensive zone and past Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda. He flicked a shot towards Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, who stopped the shot but allowed a juicy rebound. Modin kept skating and took the shot into an empty net. He was mobbed by his teammates as the sellout crowd showered him with cheers.
 
“I just tried to get a shot off on the far side and (Howard) kicked it right out to me on the backhand,” Modin said. “When you shoot the puck, you know where the goalie is and you hope he’s going to kick it back to you because it’s going to be an open net. I was fortunate to get it right back on my tape.”
 
It was a relief for the Jackets, who have played better, including a 2-1 loss in Detroit on Dec. 26.
 
“I think we’ve been feeling it coming along over the last few games that we played,” Modin said. “We played a good game in Detroit as well. We didn’t come out on top there but I thought we carried a lot of that with us tonight. It was a tight game (with) chances both ways. Obviously, Steve was phenomenal for us and made some huge saves to keep us in the game.”
 
Howard, who had 39 saves, also praised Mason’s performance.
 
“It was a goaltenders battle,” Howard said. “(Mason) made two or three great glove saves. It was out first head-to-head battle and it probably won’t be our last. (He) made some big saves and we couldn’t find a way to score. That was the game.”
 
Earlier in the day the Jackets acquired defenseman Milan Jurcina and right wing Chris Clark from Washington for left wing Jason Chimera.
 
“We’re acquiring a defenseman who’s going to solidify our group: a big guy, a defending defenseman,” Jackets General Manager Scott Howson said. “Chris Clark’s been a captain there. It’s not very often that you get to acquire a captain. So he’ll bring a veteran, leadership presence to our team which will be very beneficial to our group.”
 
The Jackets skate in Long Island against the Islanders Tuesday and return home to host Nashville on New Years Eve at 7 p.m.
 
dave.seaman@columbuswired.tv
Twitter: @DaveSeaman94