The Columbus Blue Jackets opened their four-game road trip on the wrong foot, falling 5–2 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. While the final score suggests a lopsided result, it doesn’t fully reflect how the game unfolded, as San Jose sealed the win with two late empty-net goals.
Columbus welcomed back Sean Monahan, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous four games with an undisclosed injury, providing a boost down the middle. However, the Blue Jackets were without Mason Marchment, leaving a noticeable gap in their forward group as they tried to generate offense on the road.
Game Summary
First Period
The opening period didn’t generate many quality scoring chances for either team. Columbus had one power-play opportunity but failed to capitalize, and much of the play was tight and cautious on both sides.
San Jose struck first late in the period at 19:11. A poor pinch along the boards by Zach Werenski led to a 2-on-1 for the Sharks. Alexander Wennberg found Pavol Regenda, who finished the play with a quick wrist shot that beat Jet Greaves to make it 1–0 San Jose.
Despite the goal, the period was fairly even. Columbus outshot San Jose 12–10, but neither team was able to generate sustained offensive pressure before the horn.
Second Period
The second period proved costly for Columbus, as discipline became an issue. The Blue Jackets took four minor penalties, and San Jose made them pay on the power play. At 4:14, Alexander Wennberg extended the Sharks’ lead to 2–0 with his eighth goal of the season, slipping a backhand past Jet Greaves.
Despite the score, Greaves was a major reason the game remained close. He faced heavy pressure and stopped 16 of the 17 shots he saw in the period, repeatedly bailing out his team during long defensive stretches.
Columbus finally found a late response. With just 45 seconds remaining, Zach Werenski cut the deficit to one with a wrist shot for his 16th goal of the season. The goal continued Werenski’s strong run, marking his third straight game with a goal and giving him five goals and nine points over his last five games.
After 40 minutes, San Jose held a 27–18 edge in shots, but Columbus stayed within striking distance heading into the third.
Third Period
Columbus pushed hard in the third period, firing 18 shots on goal, but it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit. San Jose restored its two-goal lead at 15:16 when Zack Ostapchuk scored his second goal of the season, beating Jet Greaves with a backhand after a broken play in the slot.
Just 49 seconds later, the Blue Jackets answered back. Sean Monahan, returning to the lineup after missing four games, made an immediate impact by cutting the lead to 3–2 with his sixth goal of the season, giving Columbus renewed life with 3:55 remaining.
The Blue Jackets pulled their goaltender in the final minutes and pressed with the extra attacker, but they were unable to capitalize on the 6-on-5 opportunity. San Jose sealed the win with two empty-net goals — one from Mario Ferraro and another from Macklin Celebrini, his 23rd of the season.
Both teams finished with 36 shots on goal, but special teams proved to be the difference. Columbus went 0-for-3 on the power play, while San Jose converted once on five chances. Greaves finished the night with a solid .912 save percentage, while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 34 of 36 shots for a .944 save percentage.
Game Stats
| STAT | CBJ | SJS |
| Goals | 2 | 5 |
| Shots | 36 | 36 |
| Power Play | 0/3 | 1/5 |
| Faceoff % | 57.7 | 42.3 |
| Hits | 12 | 20 |
| Blocked Shots | 16 | 15 |
| Giveaways | 12 | 12 |
| Takeaways | 3 | 7 |
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
⭐ 1st Star: Alexander Wennberg (SJS)
1 Goal, 2 Assists 3 Points
⭐ 2nd Star: Alex Nedeljkovic (SJS)
34 saves on 36 shots — .944 save percentage.
⭐ 3rd Star: Zack Ostapchuk (SJS)
1 Goal 1 Point GWG
Final Thought
This game was far closer than the 5–2 final score suggests. Columbus showed push and resilience, especially in the third period, but discipline and special teams ultimately tilted the game in San Jose’s favor. The Blue Jackets’ inability to capitalize on their power-play chances contrasted sharply with the Sharks’ efficiency, which proved decisive on a night where margins were thin at five-on-five.
Encouraging signs were still present. Zach Werenski continues to drive offense from the back end, Sean Monahan made an immediate impact in his return, and Jet Greaves once again gave his team a chance despite the loss. As Columbus continues its road trip, tightening up execution in key moments — particularly on special teams — will be critical if they want results to match their effort.
Next Game
The Blue Jackets continue their road trip Thursday, January 8, when they face their next test at 10:00 PM EDT.
