CBJ 3, UHC 2 (OT): Werenski, Blue Jackets Overcome Two-Goal Deficit In Third To Defeat Utah In Overtime

	1	2	3 (OT)	F
	0	0	2 (1)	3
	0	1	1 (0)	2
CBJ GOALS:  Marchenko (P3, 6:25) Johnson (P3, 11:42) Werenski (OT, 1:01)

Are you not entertained?

Daniil Tarasov was outstanding and Zach Werenski made the play of the night in overtime as the Columbus Blue Jackets came back from a 2-0, third period deficit to defeat the Utah Hockey Club 3-2 on Friday night.

The Blue Jackets struggled mightily through the first 45 minutes of action, with just 15 shots on goal for the game through five minutes of the third period.

The first sign of life came 6:25 into the final frame, when Kirill Marchenko found the back of the net to trim the Utah lead to 2-1. The Blue Jackets would tie it just over five minutes later when Kent Johnson's shot from the left face-off dot would go off a Utah skate and in.

In overtime, Zach Werenski made one of the plays of the season when he stole the puck from Utah forward Barrett Hayton and raced up the ice. After a quick pass to Cole Sillinger, who had joined him on the breakaway, Werenski received the puck at the last second to put home the game-winner.

Werenski's game-winning goal gave him 17 points for the month of January, a new club record for a defenseman. It broke the record that Werenski previously held of 16, which he compiled in both November and December. 

"We stuck with it," said Werenski. "It wasn't our best game by any means, it felt like we were a little bit tired, but we were just resilient, played our game, kept going, and found a way to win — so it was awesome." 

The comeback wouldn't have happened without the play of Tarasov. He stopped all 13 of Utah's shots on goal in the first, keeping the game 0-0 heading into the first intermission despite the Blue Jackets being outplayed on both ends of the ice.

"(Tarasov) played great all game; it could've been a lot worse," said Werenski. "Hats off to him."

Tarasov finished with saves on 31 of Utah's 33 shots.

Here's how the Blue Jackets snatched victory from the jaws of defeat:

1st Period:

There was quite a bit of action for a scoreless period. The Blue Jackets killed an early penalty and then successfully challenged a call right after that kept them from having to kill another. A few minutes later, it's Columbus who would get a power play — of the four-minute variety — after James van Riemsdyk was bloodied by a high-stick. The Blue Jackets would not convert, but it did account for six of their nine shots on goal for the period. Utah, meanwhile, had 13 shots on goal and also had a 32-16 advantage in shot attempts.

2nd Period

(0:41 — UHC Goal): Utah gets the first goal of the game in the early moments of the middle period. In the waning seconds of a power-play that carried over from the first, Hayton pushes a pass over to Nick Schmaltz, who was just outside the crease of Tarasov. He finds paydirt to give Utah the 1-0 lead.

3rd Period

(0:29 — UHC Goal): For the second straight period, Utah scores in the first minute of the period. This time it's an even-strength goal from Alex Kerfoot, who puts a rebound home on a shot from the blueline after Utah won a faceoff in the Columbus zone. 

(6:25 — CBJ Goal): The first Columbus goal of the game starts with a good zone entry by Zach Werenski, who goes across the ice before firing a shot from near the left face-off dot. Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka has trouble playing it and gives up a rebound to Adam Fantilli. His shot doesn't find the back of the net, but again it ping-pongs around in the low slot with plenty of bodies around the net and Marchenko is there to put it in off the post to cut Utah's lead to 2-1.

After Utah scored early in the third to make it 2-0, the #CBJ have come back to tie it at 2-2. Here's the first one, Kirill Marchenko's team-leading 21st of the season. pic.twitter.com/2AQwKc6zOL

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 1, 2025

(11:42 — CBJ Goal): Just five minutes after Werenski's shot from the left dot lead to a goal, Johnson fires from nearly the same point and this time he finds the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. Vejmelka again makes the initial save but again is not able to control the puck. It pings off the skate of Utah's Nick DeSimone, who was battling near the crease with van Riemsdyk, and trickles into the net.

The Blue Jackets tie it on Kent Johnson's 15th goal of the season.

We remain knotted 2-2 with 5:48 left in the 3rd. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/r3XOjQ3iRm

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 1, 2025

Overtime 

(1:01 — CBJ Goal): If there is anything Werenski can't do, it probably isn't hockey-related. The game-winning goal from Z comes as a result of a phenomenal defensive play he makes on Hayton. It immediately turns into a 2-on-0 breakaway for the Blue Jackets, with Sillinger joining Werenski. Sillinger takes a pass from Werenski and gets it back to him at the last second, giving Werenski yet another multi-point night and giving the Blue Jackets the 3-2 win in overtime.

That game-winning magic. #CBJpic.twitter.com/rP7jC45S84

— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 1, 2025

Stat Chat:

• After seven straight losses on the second half of a back-to-back, the Blue Jackets can finally put one in the win column. They're now 1-7-1 in such games.
   
• Werenski was on the ice for all three goals, including his overtime game-winner. He was the only player to be on the ice for every Blue Jacket goal.
   
• The Blue Jackets were out-attempted by double-digits in all three regulation periods tonight: 32-16 in the first, 27-11 in the second, and 28-18 in the third. 

Up Next:

The road trip continues Sunday with Columbus' only trip of the year to the Lone Star State. Puck-drop between the Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars is set for 6 p.m.