Blue Jackets 3, Stars 1: Cam Atkinson scored twice and Mark Letestu recorded the go-ahead goal on the power play 7:56 into the third period as visiting Columbus remained alive for a playoff berth.

Atkinson scored during a man advantage with 1:40 left in the game for Columbus, which entered the contest ranked last in the league on the power play. The Blue Jackets pulled even in points with eighth-place Minnesota, which has two games remaining, and host Central Division-rival Nashville on Saturday to end the regular season.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves and Brandon Dubinsky added two assists for the Blue Jackets, who have won seven of their last eight games. Letestu scored the eventual winner with a shot from the high slot after Dubinsky won a faceoff.

Jamie Benn scored for the Stars, who were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth straight season with the loss. Kari Lehtonen turned aside 32 shots for Dallas, which is 1-4-1 in its last six contests.

The Blue Jackets tallied 19 seconds into the contest as Atkinson cleaned up a rebound on the left side of the net. Erik Cole’s centering pass from the right wing caromed off a Columbus player and directly to Benn, who scored from the left side 8:43 into the second.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Letestu’s goal gave him the team lead with 13. … Dallas rookie RW Alex Chiasson, who scored six goals in his first seven NHL games, missed his fifth straight contest with a shoulder injury. … Bobrovsky has allowed 22 goals in the last 12 games.