Columbus, Ohio — Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser tumbled behind the net during the first period of their NHL game on Friday night. The matchup took place on March 28, 2025, at Nationwide Arena. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a stunning comeback on Friday night, rallying from multiple deficits to claim a 7-6 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Boone Jenner led the charge with two goals, while Kent Johnson secured the win with the only goal in the shootout. With this victory, Columbus tied with Montreal for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot at 75 points.
A Rollercoaster Game
Columbus was in deep trouble early, trailing 3-0 in the first 14 minutes. However, they fought back to level the score by the middle of the second period. Vancouver responded with two quick goals to go up 5-3, but the Blue Jackets once again refused to back down, forcing a dramatic finish.
Jenner continued his hot streak, scoring for the third straight game and adding an assist. Columbus' defense also played a vital role, with Dante Fabbro contributing a goal and two assists, while Mathieu Olivier, Denton Mateychuk, and Kirill Marchenko each recorded a goal and an assist.
Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins faced a barrage of shots, making 31 saves to help secure the win.
Canucks Put Up a Fight
Vancouver had several standout performances despite the heartbreaking loss. Aatu Raty scored twice, Brock Boeser found the net for the sixth consecutive game, and Tyler Myers notched his seventh career short-handed goal.
Pius Suter had a remarkable night with three assists, tying his career high. Linus Karlsson, Jake DeBrusk, Quinn Hughes, and Dakota Joshua also contributed to the Canucks’ offense, while goaltender Kevin Lankinen stopped 33 shots.
Key Moments and Records
One of the biggest turning points came in the final minutes of regulation. Jenner’s power-play goal with 3:14 left tied the game at 5-5, ending Columbus’ frustrating 0-for-25 streak with the man advantage.
Just 22 seconds later, Olivier gave Columbus its first lead of the night at 6-5, but Raty answered right back for Vancouver, making it 6-6 with his second goal of the period. That set the stage for a thrilling shootout, where Johnson delivered the winning strike.
Columbus made history with the win, marking the first time since 2016 that they overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first period to secure a victory. The Blue Jackets have now completed eight three-goal comebacks in franchise history, including two this season.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jackets head to Ottawa on Saturday, while the Canucks will face Winnipeg on Sunday, hoping to bounce back from the gut-wrenching loss.
