COLUMBUS—There were dumb penalties, a blown two-goal lead and missed opportunities.Ended up just fine, though, for the Blackhawks.Viktor Stalberg had the only goal in the shootout and Corey Crawford made 31 saves in the defending Stanley Cup champs’ 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.The two points were precious for the Blackhawks, holding eighth in the Western Conference, the last position for a playoff spot. The win allowed them to maintain their three-point lead over ninth-place Calgary, which also won Friday night.For a team trailing by a goal with just over five minutes left in regulation, the win could end up being particularly memorable in the tight playoff race.The sixth shooter overall, Stalberg improved to 2 for 2 in shootouts this season. He swooped in on Mathieu Garon, faked and stuck a backhand into the net.Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist and Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell also scored.Bickell’s goal came with 5:03 remaining in the third period and Columbus leading 3-2. His shot from just in the offensive zone ricocheted off a defenseman’s stick and surprised goalie Mathieu Garon.Derick Brassard, Maksim Mayorov (his first NHL goal) and Samuel Pahlsson scored for the Blue Jackets, Anton Stralman had career highs with three assists and points and Antoine Vermette added two assists.Both teams were missing their leading goal scorers.The Blackhawks were without Patrick Sharp, who has 34 goals. He missed his fifth game with a knee injury, but will be re-evaluated Sunday and is expected to play next week.The Blue Jackets were without captain Rick Nash, who has 32, for the second straight night. He’s day to day with an undisclosed lower-body injury. They also did not have top goalie Steve Mason, who sustained a minor injury in a 4-3 overtime loss at Washington on Thursday night. Garon had 23 saves.Columbus, all but out of the playoff race for several weeks, dropped to 5-8 in shootouts.

NOTES—Kane has 10 goals and 18 assists in 24 games vs. Columbus……The Blackhawks are 17-1-2 when Kane has multiple points this season, and are 59-8-10 in his four-year NHL career…..Stralman was playing his second game in as many nights after missing 15 games with a knee injury.