GAME: Columbus Blue Jackets (4-7-0) at Minnesota Wild (5-4-2).

TIME: Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT.

The front end of Columbus' home-and-home series with Minnesota took longer to settle than any other game in the NHL this season.

One night later, the Blue Jackets will try to extend their first winning streak of the season as they visit the Wild.

Trevor Letowski scored in the fifth sudden-death shootout round to give the Blue Jackets their second straight victory, 2-1 on Friday.

"I'm a pretty big fan of (shootouts) now," said Letowski, who was called up from Syracuse of the AHL last week. "I had the goose bumps going. To be out there all by yourself, when all eyes are on you, is quite a feeling. It's pretty exciting. It's nice to shoot when you have a chance to win it."

Columbus' Adam Foote scored in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. He scored 35 seconds into overtime on Wednesday in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 win over previously unbeaten Nashville.

Columbus took a franchise-record 53 shots, but Minnesota's Dwayne Roloson stopped all but one of them. He was one save short of his career high.

"Guys played with intensity and that makes for a great show," said Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who scored Minnesota's goal. "It's too bad we didn't come out on top in this one."

Although Roloson was outstanding in the loss, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire likely will give Manny Fernandez the start in net Saturday.

"Both teams have to get some rest and get ready for tomorrow," Roloson said.

Minnesota winger Marian Gaborik is out with a strained hip flexor and is expected to be put on the injured list, retroactive to Sunday's game in Chicago.

The Blue Jackets are still waiting on star forward Rick Nash to return from an ankle injury that has forced him to miss 10 games since he played in the season opener. He isn't expected to play Saturday.

STANDINGS: Blue Jackets - 8 points, 3rd place, 12 PB, Central Division. Wild - 12 points, 2nd place, 5 PB, Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Blue Jackets - Four tied with 3 goals; Manny Malhotra, 6 assists; Bryan Berard, 8 points; Jody Shelley, 26 PIM. Wild - Marc Chouinard, 6 goals; Todd White, 7 assists; Chouinard and Bouchard, 11 points; Derek Boogaard, 23 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 27): Blue Jackets - Power play: 10.2 percent (7 for 68), 30th in NHL. Penalty killing: 83.7 percent (67 for 80), 13th (tied). Wild - Power play: 26.9 percent (14 for 52), 3rd. Penalty killing: 93.4 percent (57 for 61), 2nd.

GOALTENDERS: Blue Jackets - Marc Denis (2-5-0, 3.69); Martin Prusek (2-0-0, 1.76 GAA). Wild - Roloson (2-3-1, 1, 2.31); Fernandez (3-1-1, 1.78).

SEASON SERIES: Blue Jackets, 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Friday; Blue Jackets, 2-1. At Columbus, Ohio, Prusek stopped 27 shots for the Blue Jackets.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blue Jackets - 1-4-0 on the road; Wild - 4-2-0 at home.