Blue Jackets lose lead in third, win in shootout
Monday, November 17, 2025
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
Jet Greaves makes a glove save for the Columbus Blue Jackets as Damon Severson (78) battles with Montreal’s Ivan Demidov at Nationwide Arena Monday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
For the third time in their last four games, the Columbus Blue Jackets went to a shootout to decide their contest with the Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide Arena Monday. Kirill Marchenko made his attempt to seal the 4-3 win in the shootout and the Blue Jackets ended their three-game homestand with five of a possible six points.
Zach Werenski got the scoring started Monday when he found some open ice and waited for the right moment to send one past Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes from the left slot. “It’s definitely a unique play in terms of how much time I had,” said Werenski. “But I’ll take the space and, you know, make a good shot.”
Adam Fantilli gets the congratulations of his Blue Jacket teammates after scoring a goal in the second period Monday at nationwide Arena. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Canadiens’ Oliver Kapanen tied the game five minutes into the second period. Columbus took control of the middle frame after that, scoring twice. Adam Fantilli took a pass from Marchenko at the top of the crease and settled the puck in traffic before snapping one past Dobes.
Marchenko assisted on the next goal as well. On a power play, he skated to the right circle and laced a pass to Dmitri Voronkov at the left post. Voronkov chipped it into the open net and the Blue Jackets had a 3-1 lead going to the third period.
Unfortuntately for the Jackets, as has been the case too often this season, they saw their lead evaporate in the third, capped off by a game-tying goal from Lane Hutson with only 1:19 left in regulation.
Dmitri Voronkov (10) can’t quite reach the puck after falling to the ice with Montreal’s Lane Hutson in front of goaltender Jakub Dobes at Nationwide Arena Monday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Neither team would score in the short time left in the third. In the overtime, Montreal had a number of good chances to score, outshooting the Blue Jackets, 6-0. In the shootout, Kent Johnson and Marchenko converted their attempts, while the Canadiens were limited by goalie Jet Greaves to one from Cole Caufield.
Greaves ended the night making 29 saves of the 32 shots he faced (.906) and earned his sixth win of the season. It is likely that Elvis Merzlikins will be in goal for the Blue Jackets Tuesday for the first time since November 8, when they fell in Vancouver, 4-3. The game in Winninpeg Tuesday gets underway at 8:00 p.m.
Center Charlie Coyle (right) faces off with Montreal’s Nick Suzuki during the Blue Jackets’ 4-3 shootout win at Nationwide Arena Monday. Photo: Kevin Rouch