Jan 31, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) misses the puck after it was blocked by Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images Zach Werenski scored 1:01 into overtime to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 win against the Utah Hockey Club on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
Werenski finished off a two-on-none breakaway with Cole Sillinger after stealing the puck in the Utah zone.
Utah squandered a 2-0 third-period lead.
Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson also scored, Werenski added an assist and Daniil Tarasov made 31 saves for Columbus, which has won three in a row, all in overtime.
Nick Schmaltz and Alexander Kerfoot scored, Clayton Keller logged two assists and Karel Vejmelka made 20 saves for Utah, which has lost four in a row (0-2-2) despite being tied or holding the lead during the third period of each contest.
The Blue Jackets cut their deficit to 2-1 at 6:25 of the third period after Vejmelka made back-to-back saves on Werenski and Adam Fantilli, but Marchenko scored on the second rebound.
Columbus tied it 2-2 at 11:42 when Johnson’s wrist shot hit Vejmelka in the chest and the rebound fell to his side, where it was kicked into the net by Utah defenseman Nick DeSimone.
The Blue Jackets killed two penalties in the first period and prevented another Utah power play when they won a challenge for delay of game.
Utah then killed a four-minute high-sticking penalty on Ian Cole with help from six saves by Vejmelka.
Utah’s second power play of the opening period carried over into the second period and Schmaltz scored on the man-advantage 41 seconds into the middle frame to break the scoreless tie.
Just as Keller brought the puck across the Columbus blue line, it was knocked off his stick but went to teammate Barrett Hayton on his left. Hayton brought the puck to the bottom of the left circle before centering a pass to Schmaltz, who redirected the puck into the top right corner.
Utah scored 29 seconds into the third period to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Kerfoot won a faceoff in the Columbus zone and John Marino took a slap shot that was saved by Tarasov, but the rebound came out to the front of the crease, and Kerfoot rushed in and scored.
–Field Level Media
