Blue Jackets' special teams perfect in impressive win at Dallas
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
Adam Fantilli got the Columbus Blue Jackets on the board first in their 5-1 win over the Stars in Dallas Tuesday. File photo
The Columbus Blue Jackets came into their game at Dallas Tuesday as the worst penalty kill and power play team in the NHL. After solid practices on Friday and Monday, with a win against Tampa Bay in-between, the Blue Jackets found something in both phases against the Stars.
They scored goals on both of their power play opportunities and prevented Dallas from scoring on their two 5-on-4 chances, as well as a minute and a half of 6-on-5 play late in the third period. That special team effort, combined with an aggressive offensive performance, led to a 5-1 victory, the Jackets’ second in a row.
Elvis Merzlikins earned his second win in goal for Columbus, stopping 22 of the 23 shots that came his way. In his three games so far, Merzlikins has faced 110 shots on goal and posted a save percentage of .927. His fellow goaltender, Jet Greaves, has a save percentage of .928 in his three games, having faced 27 fewer shots.
“The second period, [Merzlikins] held us in the game,” noted head coach Dean Evason after the win. “Obviously, they got one, but [he] didn’t allow them to get two, right, to tie it up and get, you know, energized and the crowd to get into it. So, yeah, he played extremely well tonight.”
Denton Mateychuk scored his first goal of the season to add to the Columbus Blue Jackets’ lead in the third period en route to a 5-1 win at Dallas Tuesday. File photo
Columbus came out with the same energy as in their win against the Lightning at Nationwide Arena Saturday. Outshooting the Stars 14-5 in the opening frame, they scored twice in the period, with Adam Fantilli and Boone Jenner getting on the board. Jenner’s goal came on the team’s first power play of the night.
Dallas responded in the second with its only score when Tyler Seguin chipped in a shot at the right post. The Stars outshot Columbus 13-6 in the second period, but that was all of the offense they would muster.
The Blue Jackets scored three times in the third, with goals from Denton Mateychuk (even strength), Dmitri Voronkov (power play), and Kent Johnson (empty netter). Jenner finished the night with a goal and an assist, moving him past Cam Atkinson for second all-time with 82 multi-point games for Columbus. Rick Nash leads with 137.
Mateychuk’s goal was his first of the season. It was the second game for the young defenseman on the top blue line pair with Zach Werenski.
Evason likes what he sees in Mateychuk. “He’s beyond his years. He’s a competitive guy. He can play all situations. He’s young, sure, but he’s doing all the right things and, again, deserves to be playing where he’s playing.”
Columbus returns home for its next game, taking on the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena Friday with the action getting started at 7:00 p.m.