Adam Fantilli scored a power-play goal 59 seconds into overtime to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.
With defenseman Shea Theodore in the penalty box for a holding penalty on Matthew Knies, Fantilli blasted a sharp-angled one-timer from the bottom of the right circle off a Charlie Coyle pass inside the near post and past the left shoulder of Vegas goaltender Carter Hart for the game-winner.
It was Fantilli’s third goal of the season and snapped a 0-for-22 drought on the power play for the Blue Jackets. It also marked the fifth straight game that the Golden Knights have allowed a power-play goal in a contest.
Denton Mateychuk also scored a goal and Kent Johnson added two assists for Columbus, which snapped a two-game losing streak and won for just the second time in six games. Cam Talbot finished with 26 saves.
Tomas Hertl scored a goal for Vegas and Hart stopped 18 of 20 shots for Vegas, which saw its losing streak extended to a season-high three games.
Columbus took a 1-0 lead at the 11:51 mark of the first period when Mateychuk, cutting through the slot, took a pass from Johnson and put a backhander inside the right post for his second goal of the campaign.
Vegas, coming off back-to-back 6-2 losses to Tampa Bay and at St. Louis, tied it near the end of the first period when Hertl roofed a rebound of a Braeden Bowman shot from the low slot for his fifth goal. Trevor Connelly was credited with a second assist.
That would end the scoring in regulation with Hart and Talbot both making highlight-reel glove saves on close-in shots from near the right post to keep the game even. Hart gloved a shot by Sean Monahan while Talbot stopped Jack Eichel’s try.
Vegas outshot Columbus 13-5 in the third period, but could not dent the net.
The Golden Knights, who had a three-game winning streak against Columbus snapped, played their second straight game without forward Mitch Marner, who remained in Las Vegas for the birth of his child.
–Field Level Media
