Blue Jackets 3, Wild 1: Kevin Connauton scored the tying goal and set up fellow defenseman David Savard's go-ahead tally as host Columbus matched the franchise record with its 10th victory of the month.

Ryan Johansen added an empty-net tally and Brandon Dubinsky notched a pair of assists for the Blue Jackets, who finished December with a 10-1-1 record. Nick Foligno celebrated his 500th NHL game and a new contract by recording an assist and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves as Columbus completed a 3-1-1 homestand.

Zach Parise scored a power-play goal for the Wild, who fell to 1-3-3 in their last seven. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 23 shots while Jason Pominville saw his five-game point streak come to an end.

Parise opened the scoring with 4:02 remaining in the first period, capping a perfect passing sequence by accepting a feed from the left hash marks by captain Mikko Koivu and beating Bobrovsky from the right side of the crease. Columbus pulled even with 46 seconds left in the middle session, when Connauton stopped a clearing attempt along the left-wing boards and fired the puck past Kuemper.

The Blue Jackets cashed in on Wild defenseman Ryan Suter's holding penalty early in the third to move ahead. Connauton made a perfect pass to Savard, who unleashed a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Kuemper high to the stick side at 5:57 for a 2-1 edge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Blue Jackets posted 10 victories in a month twice before, most recently in January (10-4-0). ... Connauton has collected five goals and four assists over his last nine contests. ... Parise's goal ended Columbus' streak of 24 consecutive penalty kills. ... Foligno signed a six-year contract extension worth a reported $33 million prior to the contest.