Dallas, TX (Best E Casino) - Rick Nash scored with 21 seconds remaining in overtime, as the new-look Columbus Blue Jackets opened the 2008-09 season with a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.

Jakub Voracek, a winger taken seventh overall by Columbus in the 2007 draft, notched a goal and an assist in his NHL debut. Jason Chimera collected two assists for the Blue Jackets, who finished 13th in the West last season. Pascal Leclaire stopped 27-of-31 shots to get the win.

Brad Richards and Trevor Daley lit the lamp late in the third period to tie the game for the Stars, who last season reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign. Stephane Robidas recorded three assists and Mike Ribeiro had two helpers. Marty Turco allowed five goals on 27 shots in defeat.

Columbus was thoroughly outplayed in the second period and went into the final period down 2-1. Kristian Huselius, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason to bolster an offense that finished 29th in the league, ignited a three-goal outburst 2:30 into the third. R.J. Umberger, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia at June's draft, had a shot blocked by a sliding Nicklas Grossman. Huselius jumped on the rebound and buried the puck behind Turco.

Andrew Murray gave the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead at the 6:21 mark, following up his own rebound. Derick Brassard lit the lamp 56 seconds later as his shot caromed off Daley's skate in the crease and slid between the pads of Turco.

Dallas, though, tallied twice in a 33-second span late in the stanza to knot the score at 4-4. Robidas fired a shot that deflected off the shin pad of Richards at the right side of the net with 3:18 remaining. Moments later, Daley's one-timer from the left point sailed over the shoulder of a screened Leclaire.

With time winding down in the extra session, Nash unleashed a sizzling wrister from between the circles that beat Turco on the blocker-side.

Voracek opened the scoring with 4:07 left in the first period. The puck ricocheted back out of the net so quickly that play continued. The tally wasn't awarded until a few minutes after that, following a video review.

Dallas completely dominated the middle stanza, outshooting Columbus 15-2, and headed into the second intermission with a one-goal lead.

Brenden Morrow's power-play marker tied the game at the 5:21 mark, then James Neal put Dallas ahead less than three minutes later. Neal, who was also playing in his first NHL game, skated down the slot and redirected Robidas' backhand feed past Leclaire.

Game Notes

Dallas finished 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Blue Jackets failed on their three chances with the man advantage...Sean Avery registered two shots in his Dallas debut.