DENVER -- The Columbus Blue Jackets didn't celebrate like they won the Stanley Cup, but they savored a feeling that had eluded them this year.

Brandon Dubinsky scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Blue Jackets posted their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.

Center Boone Jenner had two goals and defenseman Ryan Murray also scored for the Blue Jackets.

Columbus won for the first time in nine games and avoided matching the worst NHL start in 72 years. The New York Rangers began 0-11-0 in 1943-44.

"You celebrate it," Dubinsky said. "It's been awhile since we've had this type of feeling in the dressing room so we'll celebrate it."

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had 31 saves for the Blue Jackets (1-7).

Dubinsky gave coach John Tortorella the win in his second game behind the bench when he scored on a rebound at 13:17. Murray had tied it at 3 just 2:47 earlier with his first goal of the season.

"We felt this was the type of game to get you out of these slumps, you find a way to gut one out," Tortorella said. "I've only been here a couple of days doing this and they've been doing this for quite a while, since camp, so I'm happy for them."

Right winger Jarome Iginla had a goal and an assist and goalie Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots for Colorado. Varlamov came off for an extra skater in the final minute.

Center Nathan MacKinnon and right winger Jack Skille also had goals for the Avalanche.

Columbus entered the game 0-7 when trailing after two periods.

"Third period at home when you have a lead, you got to get better results than we have done a couple of times this year," Iginla said. "Those are valuable points."

The Avalanche vowed to get a better start to the season after last year’s stumble out of the gate, but they are 2-4-1 and in last place in the Central Division. Four of their five losses are by one goal.

"We keep finding ways to lose," right winger Alex Tanguay said. "It's unacceptable. We are up one goal heading into the third, all we have to do is play smart, not give them odd-man rushes. We gave them two odd-man rushes and they took advantage of it."

Skille gave Colorado a 1-0 lead just 2:21 into the game. His shot from the left circle went over Bobrovsky's shoulder and into the right corner for his second goal of the season.

Jenner tied it midway through the first period when Colorado defenseman Nick Holden couldn't control the puck at the Columbus blue line. Jenner picked it up, carried it into the Avalanche end and beat Varlamov.

The Avalanche couldn't capitalize on two power plays in the first period, but the Blue Jackets cashed in on its only one after just 15 seconds. Jenner screened Varlamov before tipping in defenseman David Savard's shot from the point at 15:56 of the first period to make it 2-1.

It stayed that way until Iginla tied it 1:43 into the second period. His shot on an odd-man rush beat Bobrovsky through the five hole for his third goal of the season.

Iginla set up MacKinnon's power-play goal late in the second period that gave the Avalanche a 3-2 lead.

"My goal probably should have been the game-winner for us," MacKinnon said. "Knowing what we are doing in the third periods seems to be embarrassing."

Columbus had a goal disallowed earlier in the period because of incidental contact on Varlamov. It would have sent the game tied into the third period, but the Blue Jackets shrugged it off to rally in the third.

"It feels really good," Jenner said. "It's a character win, going down one in the third and battling back. It's a huge period for us."

NOTES: Blue Jackets C Ryan Johansen, the team's leading scorer through the first eight games, was sent home to Columbus on Saturday morning because of illness. ... Avalanche D Brad Stuart (back) was scratched for the fifth time in seven games. He is considered day to day. ... The Blue Jackets were outscored 37-15 in their first eight games. ... Avalanche D Tyson Barrie served the last of his three-game suspension for his hit on Anaheim D Simon Despres on Oct. 16. ... Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate, Lake Erie, was Colorado's affiliate for eight seasons before signing a deal with the Blue Jackets last spring.