Rewind: Columbus Blue Jackets dominate San Jose Sharks in OT loss

F1 São Paulo GP 2026 – Qualifying

Story by

Story by
Rewind: Columbus Blue Jackets dominate San Jose Sharks in OT loss

Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Wed, Nov 6, 2024 ·

15 min read

About Our Ads

Despite outplaying the San Jose Sharks while outshooting them by nearly double, the Blue Jackets ' winless skid stretches to three straight with a 2-1 overtime loss late Tuesday night at SAP Center. The OT loss starts the Jackets' four-game western road trip with a sour taste, especially seeing former center Alex Wennberg net the winning goal past Elvis Merzlikins in overtime.

Nov 5, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) makes a save against Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) during overtime at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Kirill Marchenko scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets (5-6-1), who got 25 saves on 27 shots from Merzlikins. Vitek Vanecek improves to 7-0-0 all-time against Columbus with a career-high 49 saves for the Sharks (4-8-2).

Here's game preview information, updates and analysis:

FINAL: San Jose Sharks 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

Alex Wennberg sticks his former team with a vexing, frustrating loss in overtime on a great individual effort. After springing himself into the slot past the Blue Jackets' defense, he ripped a wrist shot over Merzlikins' glove and under the crossbar near the far side corner of the net to end it at 3:11 of OT, rewarding Vanecek for basically stealing the Sharks the second point.

Overtime: Columbus Blue Jackets 1, San Jose Sharks 1

Another impressive penalty-kill thwarted the Fantilli penalty late, paving the way for Merzlikins to help earn at least a point for the effort tonight beyond regulation. Time for OT to see who gets the second point. The Jackets outshot the Sharks by double, 48-24, in regulation.

3rd period, 16:01: Columbus Blue Jackets facing key penalty kill

Fantilli hauls down William Eklund right in front of the Columbus net, putting San Jose on the power play late in the third in a tied game that's only tied because of Vanecek's excellent in the Sharks' net.

3rd period, 9:17: Columbus Blue Jackets 1, San Jose Sharks 1

Kirill Marchenko finally cracks the ice against Vanecek, scoring to tie it after scooping the rebound of Severson 's slapper and stuffing it into the net past the sprawled Sharks goalie. That was a big one. It was also Marchenko's fifth goal and team-high 13th point this season (12 games).

3rd period, 8:06: San Jose Sharks 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

Vanecek is playing like he smells his first career shutout against the Blue Jackets along with a 7-0-0 career record against them. He's stopping everything Columbus throws at him, including the proverbial kitchen sink. His last three were saves against Kevin Labanc from the right circle, James van Riemsdyk from the doorstep and Damon Severson off a rebound from the low slot.

3rd period, first TV stoppage: San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets

More of the same to start the third period, as the Blue Jackets continue to pepper Vanecek and the Sharks' goalie easily turned all shots aside. Columbus could stand to get the puck into the middle third of the ice for more shots and scoring chances, though.

3rd period start: San Jose Sharks 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

There's one regular period left to play, and the puck is down in San Jose for the Blue Jackets and Sharks. Score favors San Jose by a goal.

Nov 5, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) battle for the puck behind the net during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

2nd intermission: San Jose Sharks 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Blue Jackets outshot the Sharks 17-11 in the second and have a commanding 30-17 edge in shots through the first two periods. They just don't have a goal thanks to another outstanding goaltending effort against them by Vitek Vanacek, who has a long history of frustrating the Blue Jackets.

If there's good news for the Jackets other than the shot total, it's that it could be 2-0 San Jose if not for the overturned Grundstrom goal for a missed offside.

2nd period, 18:49: San Jose Sharks 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

The Sharks do get the game's first goal this time, as Jack Thompson nets his first career NHL goal with 1:11 left in the second period off a beautiful no-look, cross-ice feed from Will Smith for a one-timer just as a San Jose power play expired. The pass set Thompson up with an easy shot into a wide opening on the far side of the net.

Merzlikins had no chance to stop it after commiting to the near post to defend against Smith possibly shooting from the right circle.

2nd period, 11:30: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose Sharks 0

Another good penalty kill for the Blue Jackets absolves defenseman Ivan Provorov for taking a bad interference penalty in his own zone to give the Sharks a power play while they were already seizing control of the game at even strength. Let's see if the Jackets can get some momentum from their kill to flip the ice a bit.

2nd period, 7:54: San Jose Sharks have Grundstrom goal overturned

It looked like the Sharks took a 1-0 lead on a five-hole shot by Carl Grundstrom , but the Blue Jackets challenged the entry play for offside. Replays showed Grundstrom entered the zone just offside, negating what would've been his first goal of the season.

Elvis cracked first in the goaltending duel, but he gets a reprieve and it's back to 0-0.

2nd period, 5:29: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose Sharks 0

Merzlikins has to come up big again to keep it 0-0, making four saves in the span of 18 seconds, including two on great looks for Celebrini wrist shots before the Jackets' goalie could get a stoppage.

2nd period start: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose Sharks 0

The puck is in play for the start of the second period out in San Jose, where the Blue Jackets are still looking for a way to get pucks past Vitek Vanecek. The Sharks goalie made stops on all 13 shots he faced in the first period, after coming into the game with a 6-0-0 record, 1.66 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in six career games against Columbus.

1st intermission: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose Sharks 0

All in all, score that period for the Blue Jackets despite the lack of a goal either way. They outshot the Sharks 13-6 with the aid of two power plays and controlled the puck at even-strength more than San Jose. The bad news is that Vitek Vanecek is doing what he always does against the Blue Jackets, who've never beaten him in six career games.

According to Natural Stat Trick's tallies, Columbus has the edges in Corsi (20-11), Fenwick (13-10), shots on goal (8-6) and scoring chances (7-4). High-danger chances were even (2-2).

Late 1st period: Columbus Blue Jackets impress in first penalty kill

Mathieu Olivier getting sent to the penalty box for interference put the Jackets' penalty-kill units on the ice for the first time. They performed well, killing the two-minute infraction without allowing a shot on goal. Jake Christiansen , Zach Werenski , Mikael Pyyhtia and Sean Monahan were the last PK group on the ice when Olivier was sprung from the box. It remains 0-0.

1st period, 10:42: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose Sharks 0

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins gets his first big test of the game, courtesy of Alex Wennberg. The former Blue Jackets' center set up defenseman Cody Ceci with a great look from the high slot that made Merzlikins to stop his wrister with a leg pad, then scramble to stop a second long wrister by Mario Ferraro from the opposite side of the high slot. Merzlikins wasn't as busy as Vanecek to start this game, but he's heavily involved now.

Nov 5, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) makes a save against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

1st period, 6:04: Columbus Blue Jackets 0, San Jose 0

The Blue Jackets peppered Vitek Vanecek during 4-on-4 after Macklin Celebrini (holding) and David Jiricek (interference) were sent off for offsetting minors. The problem is that Vanecek has a long history of frustrating Columbus, which was noted earlier in this blog roll. See below. He stopped all three shots thrown his way during 4-on-4 and went 6-for-6 to open the game.

Early 1st period: Columbus Blue Jackets fail on game's first power play

The Jackets got a friendly call barely a minute into the game when Sharks newly acquired defenseman Timothy Liljegren was called for tripping Sean Monahan. The Blue Jackets generated good time with the puck inside the San Jose zone, but only got one shot on goal.

Kirill Marchenko could've taken an open ome-timer from the left circle early in the power play, but attempted a cross-ice pass that was intercepted in the slot and cleared. He's got to shoot that one. It stays 0-0 early.

Game start: Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks

The puck is down at SAP Center in San Jose, where the Blue Jackets are seeking a strong rebound from a rough weekend back-to-back sweep.

Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks: starters, lineups

Blue Jackets starters

Forward line 3: Dmitri Voronkov - Justin Danforth - Mathieu Olivier

Defense pairing 1:Zach Werenski - Ivan Provorov

Goalie:Elvis Merzlikins

***

Sharks starters

Forward line 3: Barclay Goodrow - Will Smith - Luke Kunin

Defense pairing 1:Mario Ferraro - Cody Ceci

Goalie:Vitek Vanecek

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) blocks a shot in the second period at Nationwide Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks goaltending matchup

Columbus:Elvis Merzlikins will hop back between the pipes for the Blue Jackets after backing up Daniil Tarasov on Saturday in Washington to conclude the Jackets' ugly back-to-back losses. Merzlikins was tagged for six goals Friday in a 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets , but was outstanding in his previous three outings. That included a 2-0 shutout of the New York Islanders on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Merzlikins is 2-3-0 in five appearances with a 2.86 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and one shutout.

San Jose:Vanecek is getting the net after backing up MacKenzie Blackwood the past two games. After dropping four of his first five appearances to start this season, Vanecek earned a win in his most recent action last Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings . Vanecek, who's 1-4-0 with a 3.65 GAA and .879 save percentage, has never lost to the Blue Jackets. He's 6-0-0 against Columbus with a sterling 1.66 GAA and blistering .942 save percentage.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly (7) and Columbus Blue Jackets left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) talk during the second period at Nationwide Arena on November 1, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio during the game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Columbus Blue Jackets lineup at San Jose Sharks

Here's how the Blue Jackets are expected to start out tonight at SAP Center:

Forward lines

Yegor Chinakhov — Sean Monahan — Kirill Marchenko

Cole Sillinger — Adam Fantilli — Mikael Pyyhtia

Dmitri Voronkov — Justin Danforth — Mathieu Olivier

James van Riemsdyk — Sean Kuraly — Kevin Labanc

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) races ahead of Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark (13) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024.

Defense pairings

Zach Werenski — Ivan Provorov

Jake Christiansen — Damon Severson

Jack Johnson — David Jiricek

Goalies

Elvis Merzlikins

Daniil Tarasov

Scratched:D Jordan Harris , F Zach Aston-Reese

Injured:F Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery), D Erik Gudbranson (shoulder surgery), F Kent Johnson (shoulder) and F Gavin Brindley (fractured finger)

San Jose Sharks lineup vs Columbus Blue Jackets

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks tries to keep the puck from Dylan Holloway #81 of the St. Louis Blues in the first period at SAP Center on October 10, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Forward lines

Mikael Granlund — Macklin Celebrini — Tyler Toffoli

William Eklund — Alex Wennberg ― Fabian Zetterlund

Barclay Goodrow — Will Smith — Luke Kunin

Carl Grundstrom ― Nico Sturm — Ty Dellandrea

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) takes a shot on goal against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta (44) during the first period in the NHL game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on January 21, 2021.

Defense pairings

Mario Ferraro — Cody Ceci

Jack Thompson — Jan Rutta

Henry Thrun — Timothy Lilgren

Goalies

Vitek Vanecek

MacKenzie Blackwood

Scratched:F Givani Smith , D Jake Walman

Injured:C Logan Couture (lower body), D Lucas Carlsson (undisclosed), D Marc-Edourd Vlasic (back)

Macklin Celebrini to play for San Jose Sharks vs Columbus Blue Jackets

The Sharks are getting some offensive back into their top line with the return of rookie center Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini sustained a hip injury during a preseason game, aggravated it during San Jose's season-opener and hasn't played since ― missing the previous 12 games.

Despite playing through the injury, Celebrini notched his first NHL goal plus an assist for a two-point game in his NHL debut during a 5-4 overtime loss Oct. 10 to the St. Louis Blues . Celebrini will center San Jose's top forward line, skating with Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli as wingers.

Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks history

All-time record:The Blue Jackets are 28-34-5 in 67 games against the Sharks, including 10-21-2 at SAP Center. The Blue Jackets swept the two-game series last season, winning 4-3 on Feb. 17 in San Jose and 4-2 on March 16 at Nationwide Arena.
Last meeting:The Blue Jackets got a sterling performance in net from Daniil Tarasov, who made 39 saves on 41 shots to earn the goaltending win. Johnny Gaudreau (goal, two assists) and Alexander Nylander (two goals, assist) each had three points to lead the way offensively.
2024 matchups:Nov. 5 in San Jose; Jan. 16 in Columbus

Dec 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA;Linesman Shandor Alphonso (52) and Julien Fournier (56) break up a fight between Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) and New Jersey Devils right wing Alexander Holtz (10) during the first period of their game on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Nationwide Arena. — Dec 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Linesman Shandor Alphonso (52) and Julien Fournier (56) break up a fight between Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) and New Jersey Devils right wing Alexander Holtz (10) during the first period of their game on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Nationwide Arena.

Who are the officials for Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks?

Referee:Kendrick Nicholson (30)

Referee:Justin Kea (36)

Lines official:Shandor Alphonso (52)

Lines official:Jonathan Deschamps (80)

Jan 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (34) shoots past San Jose Sharks center Nico Sturm (7) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 5

Spread:Blue Jackets (-1.5)
Over/under:6.5
Moneyline:Blue Jackets -130, Islanders +110

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save against San Jose Sharks left wing Jasper Weatherby (26) during the second period of the NHL game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio Dec. 5.

Columbus Blue Jackets news

Blue Jackets notes: coaching staff sends a message
3 takeaways from the Blue Jackets' flop in D,.C.
Capitals jump out early, rout Blue Jackets
3 takeaways from the Blue Jackets' humbling loss to Winnipeg
Blue Jackets crumble under Jets' pressure
Blue Jackets take stride with grinding win over Islanders
Routing the McDavid-less Oilers : 3 takeaways
Reviewing how the Blue Jackets blew out the Edmonton Oilers
Kent Johnson hopes to return this season with rehab, no shoulder surgery

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (17) carries the puck to center ice where San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek (51) waits to defend during the third period of the NHL game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio Dec. 5.

Columbus Blue Jackets November 2024 schedule, record

Here's a look at the Blue Jackets' schedule for November, along with start times, television, and radio information of upcoming games:

Friday, Nov. 1: Blue Jackets vs Winnipeg Jets (L, 6-2) ; Takeaways ; Photos
Saturday, Nov. 2: Blue Jackets at Capitals (L, 7-2) ; Takeaways
Tuesday, Nov. 5:Blue Jackets at Sharks | 10:30 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Saturday, Nov. 9:Blue Jackets at Kings | 9 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Sunday, Nov. 10:Blue Jackets at Ducks | 8 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Tuesday, Nov. 12:Blue Jackets at Kraken | 10 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Friday, Nov. 15:Blue Jackets vs Penguins | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 93.3 The Bus
Saturday, Nov. 16:Blue Jackets at Canadiens | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Monday, Nov. 18:Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Thursday, Nov. 21:Blue Jackets vs Lightning | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Saturday, Nov. 23:Blue Jackets vs Hurricanes | 7 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Wednesday, Nov. 27:Blue Jackets vs Canadiens | 7:30 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 97.1 The Fan
Friday, Nov. 29:Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames | 3 p.m. | FanDuel Sports Network Ohio | 93.3 The Bus
November Record:0-2-0, 5th place, Metropolitan Division