The Columbus Blue Jackets ended a four-game losing streak Sunday night with a 3–2 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center, capitalizing on a late power-play opportunity to secure two points in a tightly played contest. Dmitri Voronkov scored the game-winner just 1:01 into overtime, finishing a well-executed sequence that followed a tripping penalty late in regulation.
While the victory stopped the immediate slide, Columbus remains at the bottom of both its division and the Eastern Conference, making the result more about avoiding further damage than signaling a turnaround.
Blue Jackets showed urgency
The Blue Jackets came out with noticeable urgency in the opening period, showing more pace and structure than in recent outings. That approach paid off early when Mikael Pyyhtia opened the scoring at 2:47 of the first period. After extended pressure in the offensive zone, Pyyhtia found space in the slot and beat Vitek Vanecek on the blocker side to give Columbus a 1–0 lead.
Utah responded well and began to tilt the ice as the period progressed. The Mammoth tied the game at 16:20 when Jack McBain deflected a Clayton Keller point shot past Jet Greaves. The goal rewarded Utah for a strong push late in the frame and sent the teams into the first intermission even at 1–1.
Utah carried that momentum into the second period and took the lead just 62 seconds in. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev stepped into a wrist shot from the point that beat Greaves cleanly through traffic, making it 2–1. The goal highlighted Utah’s ability to generate offense from the blue line while Columbus struggled to clear bodies from the front of the net.
Despite falling behind, the Blue Jackets stayed competitive by leaning on special teams. Columbus generated limited offense at five-on-five but remained dangerous on the power play, eventually tying the game late in the second period. At 18:31, Charlie Coyle capitalized on a loose puck behind Vanecek and tapped it into the net for a power-play goal, pulling Columbus even at 2–2 heading into the third.
The third period featured cautious hockey from both sides. Utah focused on managing the puck and limiting odd-man rushes, while Columbus continued to press selectively without opening itself up defensively. Quality chances were limited, and both goaltenders made timely saves to keep the game tied through regulation.
Turning point
The decisive moment came with just 24 seconds remaining in the third period, when Utah was assessed a tripping penalty, giving Columbus a power play that carried into overtime. The Blue Jackets needed only 61 seconds to take advantage.
Zach Werenski sent a pass from the top of the right circle toward the crease, where Dmitri Voronkov redirected the puck out of mid-air and past Vanecek to end the game. The goal capped a night where Columbus made its special teams count after extended struggles in that area.
Columbus finished the game 2-for-3 on the power play after going 0-for-17 over its previous eight games. While encouraging on the surface, the improvement came in a small sample and against a Utah penalty kill that spent long stretches defending due to heavy pressure.
Jet Greaves stopped 25 shots for Columbus, delivering a steady performance and holding the Blue Jackets in the game during Utah’s stronger second-period push. Vanecek made 33 saves at the other end and was a key reason the Mammoth earned a point despite being outshot.
For Utah, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak but still produced a point in the standings. For Columbus, the win halted a losing streak and prevented further slippage, but it does little to change the broader picture. The Blue Jackets remain well outside the playoff race, and consistency at five-on-five continues to be an issue.
Sunday’s result showed that Columbus can still compete when its structure holds and its special teams execute, but meaningful progress will require sustained performance over time — something that has eluded the club throughout the season.
Next Game:
Tuesday, Jan. 13 – 7:00 PM EDT
Columbus hosts the Calgary Flames
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