Blue Jackets win in overtime against tough Vegas team

Saturday, October 24, 2026
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com

CBJ's Denton Mateychuk scores

Denton Mateychuk (5) scores the first goal of the game in the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday at Nationwide Arena. Photo: Kevin Rouch

Even after just eight games of an 84-game season, Saturday night’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights seemed like a necessary win for the 3-5 Columbus Blue Jackets. More than their record, it was the way they fell to Toronto on Tuesday – a 6-2 loss where everything seemed off.

After two tough practices and a morning skate, head coach Rick Bowness changed the lines around and put veteran Cam Talbot in goal.

Both teams scored in the first period, with Denton Mateychuk getting on the board with the game’s first goal at 11:51. Tomáš Hertl tied the score with a goal at 17:13. That score stood through the end of the third period sending the contest to overtime.

Fifteen seconds into the extra period, Vegas’ Shea Theodore committed a holding penalty against Matthew Knies and the Blue Jackets went on a 4-on-3 power play. Columbus came into the game converting on just 8.7% of its extra-man opportunities, last in the NHL.

That statistic improved in dramatic fashion when Adam Fantilli took a pass from Charlie Coyle and scored on a shot from a tough angle to the right of the net. The 2-1 victory lifted the spirits of the team and its fans as the Blue Jackets prepare for a three-game road trip next week.

Here’s the goal-by-goal story from the Blue Jackets’ big win:

1ST PERIOD -11:51 (VGK: 0, CBJ: 1)

The Blue Jackets got a good bounce in the Knights’ zone that went to Valeri Nichushkin in the left corner. He waited for Mateychuk to move from the left circle to the middle of the ice and hit him with a perfect pass as he drove the net. Mateychuk feinted to move Vegas goaltender Carter Hart to the left post, then skated to the right side of the net and flipped the puck into the net.

1ST PERIOD – 17:13 (VGK: 1, CBJ: 1)

As time wound down in the first period, Vegas’ Trevor Connelly picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and made a pass to Braedan Bowman moving to the net. Bowman’s shot was saved by Blue Jackets goaltender Cam Talbot as he sprawled at the top of the crease. The rebound came to Hertl, who sent the puck into an open net.

OVERTIME – 0:59 (VGK: 1, CBJ: 2)

After the Theodore penalty, the Blue Jackets took advantage of their first opportunity when Kent Johnson brought it into the Vegas zone and made a twisting pass from the left wall to Coyle who collected it high in the middle of the ice. Coyle immediately sent the puck to Fantilli low on the right side. His slap shot beat Hart inside the right post for the win.

QUICK THOUGHTS: The overtime victory was important in a number of ways.

The Blue Jackets did not let the second period get away from them as it has several times so far this season. If anything, they seemed energized coming into the third period. When there were lapses, Talbot picked them up with timely saves.

Scoring on the power play, when that part of their game has been seriously lacking, should restore some confidence in their ability to create good chances with a man advantage.

The week on the road coming up, with a chance to develop some chemistry off the ice, could be just what the doctor ordered at this point in the season. 

NEXT UP: The Blue Jackets’ road trip begins Tuesday when they play the Philadelphia Flyers (7:00 p.m.). On Thursday, they’ll take on the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes (7:00 p.m.). Finally, they play the Dallas Stars on Saturday (8:00 p.m.) before heading home.