With the game on the line in the shootout, Giroux wound up with a full slap shot to give the Ottawa Senators a 3-2 win.
For the second straight game, the Ottawa Senators were held scoreless through 40 minutes, but saved their best for last and pulled off a 3-2 shootout victory over the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
Claude Giroux scored the game winner in unusual style, winding up with a slap shot and beating Elvis Merzlikins over the shoulder.
Both goalies – Merzlikins and Anton Forsberg – were busy on the night as Columbus outshot Ottawa 37-36.
Boone Jenner opened the scoring, left wide open in the slot to make it 1-0 on a nice feed from Johnny Gaudreau.
Despite some great chances at both ends, the score stayed that way until the third period.
The Senators got off to a brutal start in the final frame with Columbus outshooting them 15-0 in the first six minutes.
One of those shots came at 5:21, with Alex Nylander burying his own rebound to make it 2-0 Columbus. Gaudreau had tried to make a cross ice pass, but Claude Giroux knocked it down. Unfortunately for the Sens, it trickled right on to Nylander’s stick.
Giroux, who hadn't scored in 13 games, would see his fortunes improve from there.
Two minutes later, Giroux got the Senators on the board, getting off the schneid, and cutting the lead to 2-1. Boris Katchouk made a nice centering pass as Giroux sprinted to the net and the puck caromed in off his skate.
Five minutes after that, Tim Stutzle took a great pass from Jacob Bernard-Docker and had time to pick his spot to make it 2-2.
In overtime, with two minutes to go, Alex Texier got called for tripping, setting up a 4 on 3 Ottawa power play. With Merzlikins down and out, Giroux had what looked like the game-winning goal but defenceman Ivan Provorov blocked it, making the save of the game.
But again, better things were ahead for Giroux.
In the shootout, Tim Stutzle scored first but Texier made amends for his penalty by tying it up for Columbus. Then, like an old western gunslinger in a shootout, Giroux's blast provided a happy ending.
As unique as the goal was, it wasn't the first time Giroux has done that.
It's remarkable that Toronto tolerated a slap shot goal in those circumstances. The Senators next game is Saturday afternoon at 12:30 on Long Island.