The Blue Jackets had a four-day break between their win and a frustrating 6-2 loss at home to Kirill Marchenko and the Toronto Maple Leafs. It allowed for a reset and a better defensive effort against the Vegas Golden Knights as Adam Fantilli scored the overtime goal in a 2-1 win Oct. 24.
Already 0-for-2 on set pieces, the Blue Jackets earned a four-on-three overtime power play after Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore was called for holding on a Matthew Knies breakaway. Getting the puck on the ride side from Charlie Coyle, Fantilli hit a rocketing shot for the win.
After giving up four uncontested goals in the second period against Toronto, the Blue Jackets stepped up defensively and held a stalemate through the second all the way to overtime. Veteran goalie Cam Talbot made his fourth start and made 26 saves during a contest with scarce chances to create offense.
In an attempt to spark the offense, the Blue Jackets opted for big changes to their offensive lines for the weekend, elevating Valeri Nichuskin to left wing on the top line with Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson.
The trio had an early impact. In the first period, Nichuskin intercepted a puck on a forecheck just past the crease and fed it to Johnson in the corner, finding defenseman Denton Mateychuk for a backhand score.
The Golden Knights responded with a goal from Tomas Hertl before the first period ended. The rest of the contest saw back-and-forth battles in the neutral zone. With star forward Mitch Marner absent due to personal reasons, Vegas increased offensive pressure in the third period, but came up short.
The Blue Jackets are now 8-8-1 against the Golden Knights all-time.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino lights the cannon at Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights game
The Blue Jackets may have a new celebrity fan. Kansas City Royals first baseman lit the ceremonial cannon ahead of the game while donning a Blue Jackets jersey.
Pasquantino is not from Ohio, nor has he ever played for an Ohio professional or collegiate baseball team. But his wife, Ryann Harris, played soccer at Dublin Jerome High School. The couple both played sports collegiately at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Payton Tolle and Vinnie Pasquantino checking in from the #WorldSeries 👋 pic.twitter.com/CjR0j9VaiJ
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026
Pasquantino is evidently well-traveled. He was in attendance during Game 1 of the World Series in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a day prior.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets earn 2-1 OT win over Vegas Golden Knights