Vegas Golden Knights @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Season 26 Game 9 Recap

Tonight, in Nationwide Arena, our Columbus Blue Jackets would look to bounce back from a shaky start to the 2026-27 NHL Season. Their last game, also at home on Tuesday Night, ended with a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and a lot of questions. With the lines shaken up and a desire to win, our Blue Jackets would take on the Vegas Golden Knights, a team that has been in the postseason conversation since their inception. 

Denton Mateychuk would score the first goal of the game, putting our Blue Jackets up 1-0 at 11:51. This is his second goal of the season. Kent Johnson would add his second assist of the season on the primary, while Valeri Nichushkin adds his fourth assist this season on the secondary. At 17:13, Knights' Tomas Herti would tie the game with his fifth goal of the season. The primary assist would be the third this season for Braeden Bowman, and the secondary assist would become the fourth this season for Trevor Connelly. The period would end in a 1-1 tie, while the Knights would lead in shots on goal, 9-5.  

Period 2 has haunted this Blue Jackets team since the season began. Tonight, at least, our Blue Jackets would change that. They wouldn't get a power play this period, but they wouldn't have to kill any either. Also, the Blue Jackets didn't score, but they also didn't allow the Knights a goal, either. So, the 1-1 tie from period 1 would just roll from period 2 into period 3. Our Blue Jackets led shots on goal this period, 8-5 this period. 

Our Blue Jackets would have two chances on the power play in period 3, but wouldn't cash in on either. They would continue to defend against the Knights, not allowing them to score. That said, the Knights wouldn't allow us to score, either. So, you know what's coming: Overtime! The shots on goal this period would heavily favor the Knights, 13-5. (It's also worth nothing that Cam Talbot was incredible in this period, and was a huge factor in this game going to OT.)

Seconds into overtime, Shea Theodore would go to the box after holding Matthew Knies. On this power play, at 00:59, Adam Fantilli would make the cannon go boom! This power-play goal is his third of the season and seals a 2-1 victory over a Cup contender! Charlie Coyle adds his seventh assist on this goal with the primary, while Kent Johnson gets his second assist of the night, his third this season, with the secondary. The Blue Jackets led shots on goal in the overtime period, 2-0. Yes, the Blue Jackets didn't even let the Knights get a shot on goal. What an improvement, and a much-needed morale boost! 

The Third Star of the Game, with a 1-0-1 night, Denton Mateychuk!

The Second Star of the Game, with a 1-0-1 night and the game-winner, Adam Fantilli!

The First Star of the Game, and rightfully so, Cam Talbot! He'd earn this with a .963 save percentage after he stopped 26 of the Knights' 27 shots on goal! 

Now, it's time for the Blue Jackets to pack their bags and that winning mindset. We head to Philadelphia for a Tuesday night meeting with the Flyers. Yes, the Flyers struggled early this season, but have recently beaten some of the best teams in the league. So, don't be fooled by their 3-7-3 record. Our Blue Jackets will have to be just as sharp Tuesday night as they were tonight. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m.! 

GO CBJ!  

 

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